I'd like to take a slightly different tack, because I think pregnancy and birth is about that period of transition for the first two years. You can fix the child care quite easily here on the Hill. The other issues are probably more problematic.
The bottom line is that when your child starts school—and I think Lisa is on line here—and you're trying to split yourself between two places, it's a huge balancing act. But the member of Parliament who spoke about having.... The same thing happens to a man who comes to Ottawa and has to leave his family. There are huge sacrifices involved in politics.
I think it would be interesting—and I know my daughter would love to appear, if the committee could pay her travel costs from Calgary, because she's living in Calgary right now—to hear from the kids.
It's a wonderful experience to be a child of a politician. I used to play housewife, because that's what my mother was. When my child was growing up, she used to play reporter. She used to take a little stick and interview me, because that's what she would see around the Hill. She ended up with such a broad and expansive view of the country that it was a wonderful blessing. Yes, it is challenging, but I think the benefits that accrue from being exposed to this life of.... It's somewhat of a spalpeen life—you are a bit of a nomad as a politician—but those characteristics can also lend themselves very well to growing a child who's very flexible in adult life. I think it would be fun to hear from the kids.
When my daughter was growing up, the last thing she wanted to do was hear about politics. I'm surprised, Lisa, that you can even get your daughter to go to political.... But she's only 11, so wait until she's 14. Now that she's 29, she's thinking again, so I think there is a huge positive to it.
Just like those women who may not have thought about running but finally just said, go for it, I would say, go for it. You can accommodate, and there will be reasonable accommodations in this place. It's a wonderful place for a kid to grow up. All of the members on all sides have that experience. It's something you share together. I think it's really positive.