Rachel Kiser
Blogger | Mom of Two

Kelda Roys is a 38-year-old former state representative from Wisconsin. Among other things, she is an attorney who has served on the board of the ACLU of Wisconsin, CEO of a real estate brokerage, a wife, and a mother. She’s also running for Governor of Wisconsin. Quite an impressive resume, right?

And, although she’s got a ways to go before she makes it to the polls, she has sparked national media attention by doing something that comes almost as naturally to her as breathing: feeding her infant.

Roys was filming her campaign ad, which did plan to feature her husband and two small children. As she was discussing her role in helping to ban the use of BPA (a toxic chemical often found in plastic) in her state, her husband comes on-screen to hand off their 4-month-old daughter, Avalon, who was fussing. The politician barely even misses a beat in discussing how proud she is of her work, while simultaneously latching her infant.

In her mind, though, the cameras would stop rolling and cut the footage, or at the very least, “I thought we could re-shoot this part or maybe they will use the audio,” she explained. But when she saw the images of her feeding Avalon, she felt that it was an important moment to show to the public. She says, “People are craving authenticity and they want candidates who are real people you know, warts and all.”

Kelda Roys for Governor

She’s right, too. It can sometimes feel like we’re shouting to the wind when it comes to raising awareness on women’s, and family, issues. To see a woman who cares deeply about her constituents and her family (and can balance both) is refreshing.

Highlighting strong, driven women who juggle their home life and professional life is so important. By Kelda Roys nursing her child in the midst of  speaking to the public about why she’s fit for office, she is also cracking down on the stigma of breastfeeding. So many women around the world nurture their children this way, but somehow we’re still told it’s taboo, or there’s no place for it in the public eye. Where movers and shakers exist, so do children, and they have needs, too. Roys’ speech is powerful, and the way she takes care of her daughter is, too.

About Rachel Kiser

Rachel is a wife and mother living in Raleigh, North Carolina. She’s a fan of good coffee, wearer of gray t-shirts, and is constantly starting books she will never finish. Her family is her joy, and she loves to engage with other moms and dads on matters of parenting. Her blog posts have also been featured on the Today Show Parenting Blog and Scary Mommy.

View all posts by Rachel Kiser here.