Being a working mom is tough, and being a working mom in the public eye is a special kind of hard. Journalist Kristen Welker started her new job as a moderator on NBC's Meet the Press while her 2-year-old daughter Margot struggled with a sleep regression. Welker talked with Today about how difficult it is to balance her new job and motherhood, but she wouldn't want it any other way.
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Sleep regressions are no joke
"It’s been a challenge in our household," Kristen confessed. "When she wakes up at midnight, I’m thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, I have a very busy workday, I’m starting a new job."
Her new job has her sitting at a desk with some serious political figures, so she definitely needs the rest!
There are lots of changes happening in Kristen's household right now
Not only does Kristen have a cool new job, Margot has a milestone of her own: starting preschool. Kristen shared that the first few preschool drop-offs were "teary," but that ended quickly.
"She saw her teacher who she adores, and she hopped out of my arms, grabbed her teacher’s hand and said, ‘Bye bye, mama and dada,’" she explained, adding that in that moment she was "filled with pride."
The road to motherhood was not easy for Kristen
Kristen has been quite open about her struggles with infertility and how challenging it was to have Margot, who was born via surrogate in 2021.
"I think when you struggle with infertility, when you really sit with the idea that you may never become a parent when it’s all you’ve ever wanted in life, every single moment of motherhood is a gift and a joy," she shared.
Family time is a major priority for her
She may have a very important job, but when Kristen is on mom duty, all the rest of it goes out the window. She revealed that she uses her 15-minute commute to "decompress," so that when she gets home, she can be 100% present with Margot and her husband.
"The second that I see her precious face, I’m 150% focused on her," she shared. "Phone goes down and she is the center of everything — as she always is. But think that’s important: When you’re home, you’re focused on family."
