“Members have loved it because a lot of them are parents and even grandparents,” stated Gomez Friday. “They just love seeing a baby, and it doesn’t hurt that a lot of people think Hodge is super cute.” The California Democrat grew to become a social media star this week whereas tweeting his journey as caregiver and lawmaker caught in the mind-numbing but riveting quest to call a speaker for the 118th Congress.
Gomez had 14 members of the family in Washington — the first time they were all collectively since the pandemic — and a slate of plans together with an enormous household photograph for his swearing in. But first, a speaker needed to be elected.
Hodge spent Tuesday in the House flooring and cloakroom, requiring two bottle feedings and “multiple diaper changes.” On Wednesday morning, Gomez took his firstborn to go to close by places of work after which again to the House flooring. His household toured the Air and Space Museum and the White House. On Thursday, his family flew residence — together with his spouse, Mary Hodge, a deputy mayor of Los Angeles — leaving Gomez and his son in Washington.
“We believe in the idea that my wife or any woman should not be the default parent, automatically the default caregiver,” he stated. “My job is a little bit more flexible since I am the boss of my office. I answer to myself and to the people of the 34th Congressional District. So it was easier for me to keep him.” (Well, not that straightforward: He shares a small D.C. condo with Darren Soto (D-Fla.) that hardly matches all the child gear.)
Traditionally, members of Congress spend the first day of a brand new time period celebrating with family members: The spotlight is often that swearing-in photograph. The senators did so this week with little fanfare. The House was, nicely, a scorching mess of uncertainty and dashed plans.
Two well-known fathers, Rev. Jesse Jackson and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), were stuck in the House gallery for hours Tuesday, hoping to see their sons sworn in. “I feel bad for the relatives, the spouses, partners and family members who came to town for new members,” Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) stated in a news convention Wednesday.
Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) was excited to have her first granddaughter, 9-month-old Tibby, in the nation’s capital for her swearing-in. Tibby spent a part of Tuesday on the House flooring on her grandmother’s lap. She was out and in of the congresswoman’s workplace Wednesday, hoping for a swift decision. Alas, it was to not be.
Brownley, like most members, tried to discover a silver lining: “I am proud that an historic number of women will serve in this Congress, which will undoubtedly inspire countless young women and future leaders, like my granddaughter, Tibby.”
Joaquin Castro (D-Tex.) introduced his spouse and three kids, together with 8-month-old daughter Anna Valentina, from San Antonio to Washington, an opportunity for them to witness historical past. All three were on the House flooring Tuesday.
On Wednesday, his spouse and older kids toured the White House whereas he introduced the child to the flooring. (At one level, Gomez tweeted a photograph of his son and Anna facet by facet: “At this rate @JoaquinCastrotx’s daughter Anna Valentina and Hodge will be going to prom! #CongressCuties #118thCongress”)
“It adds to the chaos because the Capitol isn’t really built for kids,” Castro stated after a vote on Friday. “It’s hard to get around with a stroller on the floor.” But seeing all the youngsters was nice, he added: “It lightened everything up. All the kids did really well. No one was crying for an hour straight.” He paused and clarified, “I can’t vouch for the adults.”
Another takeaway: Castro found the males’s members lavatory doesn’t have a altering station, one thing he intends to treatment. The bigger situation is normalizing seeing fathers taking good care of their work and their youngsters. (We’ve seen extra dads this week partly as a result of only about a quarter of House members are female.)
Having youngsters current, Gomez stated, has been a reminder to his colleagues of what they’re combating for. He’s desirous about legal guidelines that make sense for working households, making it simpler for dads and mothers to handle their kids.
Gomez stated he’s getting lots of consideration, however not essentially for the proper cause. “People are saying, ‘Oh, that’s awesome. You brought your kid to work.’ I’m a guy. I get praised. But if a woman takes their kid to work, they’ll go, ‘Oh, you took the kid to work.’ It’s a different connotation,” he stated.
“For women to do it, it means that they’re not as dedicated as a man, but if a man takes a kid to work, it seems like they’re a better parent, which I think is something that we have to push back against.” That’s why he’s for paid household go away for moms and dads.
One other thing: Hodge is already approach too comfy on the House flooring. “He’ll let you know if he doesn’t like a position or if he’s getting tired. But he likes the cameras,” Gomez stated. Sounds like a future politician to us.
Paul Kane contributed to this report.