How NOT To Be A Sexist Jerk: 3 Things Political Wives Wish You Knew

Breaking News- Political Wives are not extensions of their husbands!

In our political culture, there is a longstanding tradition of treating political wives as an extension of their politician husbands. This tradition does not exist when a man is married to a female politician. Case in point, the Clintons. How many times has Hillary been targeted, named and shamed for the actions of her husband? Too many times to count. Whereas Bill is never targeted for things his wife does as a politician.

US President Bill Clinton (R) gives a thumbs up sign with First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton (L) as they took to the stage prior to addressing the people of Buffalo, New York at the Marine Midland Arena 20 January. This is the first official trip of Clinton to Buffalo and comes after his State of the Union speech to Congress. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO/Stephen JAFFE ORG XMIT: BUF99
US President Bill Clinton (R) gives a thumbs up sign with First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton (L)

I studied women’s studies and could give you a long feminist analysis of why this tradition exists, but the simple short answer is sexism.

All too often, political wives are treated as nothing more than extensions of their husbands.

As a political wife, I have experienced this on a number of occasions. Here is a particularly cringe-worthy experience from today. I reached out to offer my services for a cause I support and was told that I wasn’t welcome to assist this group because the person heading it doesn’t like my husband.

Their reasoning was that if I helped collect donations for people in need, I would try to give all of the credit to my husband, which would inevitably result in him getting positive press and making him look good.

Apparently this chain of events would devalue the contribution that the group was trying to make to society. 

At first I thought this seemingly progressive person from the group must have misunderstood me. This individual who prides themselves on equality and social justice wouldn’t simply view me as a mere extension of my husband—would they?! Continue reading “How NOT To Be A Sexist Jerk: 3 Things Political Wives Wish You Knew”

Who Else Sacrificed For Your Freedom?

Who else sacrificed for your freedom?

This week we will pause and remember the sacrifices that so many have made so that we could be free.

We live in a country where we are free to criticize the government. We live in a country where all people have access to important services regardless of gender or ethnicity. I am incredibly grateful to members of the Armed Forces and our veterans for everything they have sacrificed for my freedom and safety.

For those who have gone to fight and never come home, we remember.

For those of you who have gone to fight, and come home forever changed in body and spirit, we are grateful in ways that words can’t express.

Though, we can express our gratefulness and remembrance by stopping what we are doing on the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month and walking to a cenotaph.

I am proud to live in a country where the message of remembering the cost of the freedom we enjoy is taught in our schools and spoken about in our communities.

However, our gratefulness and acknowledgement of the sacrifices that people have made should not stop at the members of our Armed Forces and our Veterans.

To the wives, spouses, and significant others of our past and present Armed Forces, I am incredibly grateful and aware of the sacrifices YOU make for MY freedom.

Thank You to our veterans and their families
Thank You to our veterans and their families


You have lived in fear for the safety of someone you love. Our society is finally acknowledging  the effect that war has on our returning veterans. You are the person they come home to and I know that your sacrifices don’t stop when your hero returns home. For everything you have been through and everything you continue to go through, thank you.

Parenting is all consuming and very exhausting. Doing it alone because your partner is off fighting for my freedom is a sacrifice you make and I want you to know that it does not go unnoticed.
Continue reading “Who Else Sacrificed For Your Freedom?”

6 Tips For Surviving Solo Parenting

There are so many themes in Political Wife Life that non political spouses can identify with!

The 1950’s style family where one parent goes to the office and comes home at 5 p.m. while one parent stays home and runs the house is no longer the norm.

Solo parenting (where the parents are still in a relationship, but one person tends to do a majority of the parenting because the other parent works extremely long hours or is away for an extended period of time) is becoming more common. This has always been a reality for military families and political families.

Rocking Solo Parenting with the help of BABY WEARING
Rocking Solo Parenting with the help of BABY WEARING

Continue reading “6 Tips For Surviving Solo Parenting”

Welcome Class of 2015

vote

Today is the 42nd federal election in Canada. The winds of change are in the air so that means there will be a bunch of new spouses jumping in to the crazy club of Political Wife Life.

Regardless of your political affiliation I want to extend a very warm welcome and an open hand of friendship. Please send me an email. I would love to hear your stories, learn from your experiences and help you navigate this crazy life.

This blog is still in its infancy and my dream is to build a community, but I can’t do that without you. I need YOU, and if your introduction into Political Wife Life is anything like mine was, you could use a friend with a bit of experience.

So please click here  and send me an email. Share as much or as little as you feel comfortable doing.

Above anything else please know that you are not alone.

Ladies, whether tonight brings you joy or disappointment, know that you have someone in your corner.

Cheers,
Kate