A pretty neat milestone, you have to admit

April 10, 2018 2:43 PM

Maile Pearl Bowlsbey, ninth-generation American, was born on April 9th. This fact, by itself, is not noteworthy; a baby is born in the US every eight seconds. But baby Maile is different in one very interesting way: her mother, Tammy Duckworth, is a United States Senator, the first ever to give birth while in office.
posted by kevinbelt (21 comments total)

Pregnancy and childbirth is something completely commonplace that nearly half of the population experiences, but somehow it still took almost 230 years for it to happen to a US Senator.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 3:02 PM on April 10, 2018 [44 favorites]

!
posted by duffell at 3:13 PM on April 10, 2018 [2 favorites]

Well, congrats to Senator Duckworth!
posted by tobascodagama at 3:24 PM on April 10, 2018

"Pregnancy and childbirth is something completely commonplace that nearly half of the population experiences, but somehow it still took almost 230 years for it to happen to a US Senator."

Let's hope they don't take as long to finally start enacting the will of their constituents.
posted by GoblinHoney at 3:43 PM on April 10, 2018 [2 favorites]

In case you were wondering, the average Senator is 63 years old, which is a whole other issue.
posted by ckape at 3:46 PM on April 10, 2018 [5 favorites]

Senator Duckworth's accomplishments are really amazing; read about her if you aren't familiar with them. Relatively minor in perspective, but still worth noting, is that she came up with the moniker "Cadet Bone Spurs" for our current commander in chief.
posted by TedW at 3:47 PM on April 10, 2018 [17 favorites]

Since the birth of Abigail, Ms. Duckworth has introduced several bills aimed at making life easier for new parents, but none have been voted into law.

“Parenthood isn’t just a women’s issue, it’s an economic issue and one that affects all parents — men and women alike,” Ms. Duckworth said in her statement announcing Maile’s birth. “As tough as juggling the demands of motherhood and being a Senator can be, I’m hardly alone or unique as a working parent, and my children only make me more committed to doing my job and standing up for hardworking families everywhere.”

We're lucky to have Senator Duckworth. Probably 99% of other senators have had kids either while in office (dudes) or before (ladies) and they all know what it's like to be a working parent and yet they are fine with how unnecessarily difficult life in general is.
posted by bleep at 5:05 PM on April 10, 2018 [13 favorites]

Apropos of nothing in particular, I just think it's hilariously odd that of the handful of women currently serving as Senators, two are named Tammy. (Though the 1960s were certainly peak Tammy, which had an extreme rise and fall as a fad name.) The odds are something like 10,000 to one.

Anyway, it's so great to see her representing so much -- not just a mother, but one in her 40s, and one with multiple disabilities. And while reminiscing about her career, let's not forget the time that her GOP opponent, professional blowhard Joe Walsh, tried to swiftboat her.
posted by dhartung at 5:16 PM on April 10, 2018 [5 favorites]

of the handful of women currently serving as Senators, two are named Tammy

But which is Tammy 1 and which is Tammy 2?
posted by elsietheeel at 5:52 PM on April 10, 2018 [8 favorites]

Born in the purple
posted by XMLicious at 5:55 PM on April 10, 2018 [2 favorites]

Anyway, it's so great to see her representing so much -- not just a mother, but one in her 40s...

As it happens, Sen. Duckworth celebrated her 50th birthday last month.
The birth announcement, via Twitter posts:

Bryan, Abigail and I couldn’t be happier to welcome little Maile Pearl as the newest addition to our family and we’re deeply honored that our good friend Senator Akaka was able to bless her name for us—his help in naming both of our daughters means he will always be with us.

Pearl Bowlsbey Johnson was Bryan’s great Aunt, an Army Officer & a nurse who served during the Second World War. He spent many summer months with her while growing up, we feel her presence still and are grateful for her service to our nation during the most challenging of times.

We’re also so grateful for the love and support of our friends and family, as well as our wonderful medical teams for everything they’ve done to help us in our decades-long journey to complete our family.
posted by Iris Gambol at 6:03 PM on April 10, 2018 [6 favorites]

My Senator!
And yes, she has quite a story. I’m very proud to be one of her constituents.
posted by bookmammal at 6:07 PM on April 10, 2018

Brava Senator!

P.S. I'd like to know what's the mefi birth congratulation symbol, on the same lines as "." is recognition of death's sadness
posted by anadem at 9:47 PM on April 10, 2018

I think it's:

/ô\
posted by Rumple at 10:01 PM on April 10, 2018 [5 favorites]

And the least remarked on thing is that she's 50. I guess, because it's way down the list for a remarkable woman.
posted by Gnella at 3:19 AM on April 11, 2018 [1 favorite]

Maile

Honest question, how is this pronounced? My-lee? May-lee? I ask because an old high school friend has a girl named Maile* and if I ever meet her I want to be prepared.

*Which at first glance I thought was the french mustard brand, but that's Maille.
posted by lollymccatburglar at 5:53 AM on April 11, 2018 [1 favorite]

Honest question, how is this pronounced? My-lee? May-lee?

I haven't heard Senator Duckworth pronounce it--which would be the ideal--but the person I know with that name says My-lee.
posted by dlugoczaj at 7:07 AM on April 11, 2018

P.S. I'd like to know what's the mefi birth congratulation symbol, on the same lines as "." is recognition of death's sadness

That was sort of my intention with "!" above. I guess you could also use ":" to signify the beginning of something, but that seems a little off. Maybe komejirushi?

※
posted by duffell at 7:34 AM on April 11, 2018

I had a vague sense that Senator Duckworth was from Hawaii (her family moved there when she was 16, and she stayed there until she obtained her polisci BA from University of Hawaii), so I didn't even consider any alternate pronunciations for "Maile" than the one that would be common there, which would be closest to "my-lee". (Maile is a flowering plant often used in leis.)
posted by tobascodagama at 8:02 AM on April 11, 2018 [2 favorites]

(Maile is a flowering plant often used in leis.)

Oh wow, I didn't know that, thanks!
posted by lollymccatburglar at 3:15 AM on April 12, 2018

Oh god, I hope she runs for President.
posted by ambulocetus at 8:33 AM on April 22, 2018 [1 favorite]