Michigan‘s First Mom... Working mother Govenor Granholm balances state business with three kids

Being a mother is both challenging and rewarding. Some say it is the toughest job in the world. As Mother’s Day approaches one wonders what type of mom a certain resident of Lansing’s west side might be.
Michigan’s first female governor and mother of three children, daughters Kate and Cece and son Jack, goes about her life as a wife and working mom just like most. Sure there are some differences; like most working moms don’t start a new job facing a $3 billion budget deficit. Oh yeah, and you won’t find Governor Jennifer Granholm behind the wheel in the car pool lines at school either. Driving is one of the privileges you give up when elected, although on occasion while being chauffeured to work she will drop off the kids at school.
But there is that morning scramble of breakfast and last-minute homework being done at the kitchen table in the Granholm-Mulhern home, otherwise known as the Governor’s Residence. She starts her day early, sometimes with a morning run (she hopes to run a marathon someday), and after reading the morning papers and praying with her husband she checks in to make sure the kids are getting ready for school before heading to her office. Governor Granholm likes to be at her desk by 7:30 a.m.

CHECKING HOMEWORK
The governor has no qualms with putting her morning preparations aside to review a science project or check an English paper.
“Jennifer is like many working mothers, incredibly able to shift from ‘matters of state’ to matters of home,” said husband Dan Mulhern. “As a mother she mixes warmth with high expectations for our kids. She’s the shoulder to cry on, but also the one who sets the bar high. One of her strongest beliefs is that ‘to whom much is given, much is expected.’ She makes that very clear to our kids.”
While Granholm is a first, so is her husband. As Michigan’s first ever “First Gentleman,” Mulhern left his career and the leadership/development firm that he started to commit himself full time to his responsibilities as First Gentleman and to take on larger parenting responsibilities while his wife tackles the tasks as the State’s CEO.
Those close to the family see them as the perfect role models in this fast-paced society on how to make it all work. Mulhern is relishing in his role and has no concerns over societal perceptions of the traditional male/female work responsibilities.
“At a deep level, I really don’t care about societal standards. I don’t judge other people that way, and I don’t give other people that power in my life,” said Mulhern. “I am a huge believer in ‘servant/leadership,’ whether that means a CEO serving his employees and shareholders, or a husband serving his wife and children. I don’t see my role as an obligation but as an extraordinary opportunity. I totally love my kids and am incredibly grateful to be so close. I admired my dad, who was a typical working dad. I think my dad, if he were alive, would be jealous of my ability to work in the world, but also have a primary and special role with Kate, Jack, and Cece.”

‘CLASS FOX’
Michigan’s first couple will celebrate their 19th wedding anniversary in a month. When the Governor reflects on her husband, one word comes to mind.
“He is a saint,” said Granholm.
Ironically Mulhern was on the path that could lead to sainthood. After attending University of Detroit Jesuit High School, he considered entering the priesthood and majored in religious studies at Yale before going on to Harvard Law School where he and Granholm met. Granholm jokes, “It was divine intervention that kept him out of the priesthood.”
It was probably divine intervention as well that kept Granholm from her early life’s ambition of becoming an actress. Born in Canada, her family moved to California when she was three. Her “Farrah Fawcett looks” and charming personality led her high school classmates to vote her “Class Fox,” and many believed she would become an actress.
After high school she attended the famed American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where Robert Redford, Lauren Bacall and others had studied acting. She even went out on a date with actor John Schneider (Bo Duke from The Dukes of Hazzard) and worked as a guide at Universal Studios. An appearance on the Dating Game and two and a half years in Hollywood led her to reconsider her goals in life.
“Being a blonde at the time of “Charlie’s Angels” and “Three’s Compan”y and not having a college education, it was clear that I was going to be stereotyped,” said Granholm. “I knew no one was going to take me seriously until I graduated from college. So I moved home and enrolled in college.”

A U.S. CITIZEN
She immersed herself at the University of California at Berkley. She graduated in 1984 Phi Beta Kappa and became a U.S. Citizen that same year. In the fall she headed off to Harvard where she would eventually become the editor of the Harvard Civil Rights Civil Liberties Law Review. Her pursuit of a higher education and later her willingness to pursue the office of Attorney General of Michigan and eventually the Governor’s office, gathered continued encouragement from her mother.
“My parents were always supportive,” said Granholm. “My mother always told me to ‘put on my wings and fly.’ She told me I could be whatever I dreamed of becoming.”
Being governor of the State of Michigan wasn’t exactly her dreams. In fact political circles in Detroit 10 years ago suggested that her husband was most likely to become the politician in the family. But after taking a job in the Michigan Attorney General’s office, eyes and fingers were all in her direction when a successor to longtime Attorney General Frank Kelly was being discussed.
“At first I said to Dan, “No way, I am 10 months pregnant, I can’t do this.’ He was the one that encouraged me to run and told me not to worry, that it would all work out with the kids,” said Granholm. “He said he would be there for me. He was then and has been at my side through it all. He makes it so much easier at home and for me on the job. I think I already said this but he really is a saint.”
So while Mr. Mulhern agrees with his wife’s approach to mothering their children, does he agree with her on all of her decisions as governor?
“We seldom disagree about things. But she’s the governor, and I am not. I know and deeply respect that truth,” said Mulhern. “I share my thoughts, sometimes passionately, but it’s her call to make, and my role to support her. I think that’s how good teams work.

PRESIDENT GRANHOLM?
Now, despite a constitution that prohibits those born outside the country from serving as president, her name is making many short lists. What started out as a movement to amend the U.S. Constitution to allow current California Governor Arnold Schwartzenegger the opportunity to run in 2008 has now shifted to an “Amend for Jen” campaign.
Granholm chuckles and says she is not interested. Regardless, political talk show hosts mention her name often and even suggest that if she could run she might be nominated before Hillary Clinton. Even the popular New York based international style magazine “Elle” has jumped on the Granholm bandwagon. The current issue has an in-depth and well-written piece on Granholm and her rise to national prominence.
But this is politics and there is another side to it all, and that side (the Republicans) is not taking kindly to all the positive publicity the governor is getting. In fact, the State Republican Party Chairman e-mailed journalists around the state a link to the “Elle” article with the subject saying, “What the Elle?”
Granholm and Mulhern refuse to be brought into political mudslinging.
“When Dan encouraged me to run for attorney general he said I could set a great example for our daughters,” said Granholm. “He said the same thing about setting the example for our children when I ran for governor. I hold our children accountable for their actions and I want to be able to go home at nighttime and be accountable to them for my actions. There is enough partisanship in Lansing-I am trying to get past it and work to get Michigan back on track.”

MAKING POPCORN
When Granholm returns from a busy day, concern though isn’t about her battles with the Republican-controlled legislature; instead the topic is usually “what’s for dinner,” or “hey Mom I need some help with my homework,” or “who’s going to make the popcorn before ‘American Idol’ comes on.”
Despite the daily challenges and demands of the office, Granholm established from the start that her family would come first. After being elected she commuted at least two hours to work for six months before moving the family to Lansing so her children would be able to finish the school year. Most nights she reads to her son Jack before bedtime and she has read cover-to-cover all five Harry Potter books to him.
Being governor has meant giving up some things like an occasional “girls night out” with friends, or Friday night dinner dates with her husband (pretty tough going to dinner and not having everyone giving advice or coming to the table to say hello). But for Jennifer Granholm, one thing she wasn’t willing to give up was her responsibilities as a mother.

AMERICAN IDOL
So, do Mulhern and Granholm feel that with their busy schedules they are missing out on things?
“What busy couple doesn’t feel like life is going a little too fast? We work to make it to all the essentials: doctors appointments, teacher conferences, awards ceremonies, games, performances,” said Mulhern. “As a couple watching ‘American Idol,’ is one unusual place where we tend to come together each week.”
‘American Idol?’ So does Mulhern or the Governor have any predictions for a winner? Apparently that is a closely guarded secret. Although if the trend continues, this mother of three might hear, “And the next American Idol is Jennifer Granholm.” Her prize won’t be a recording contract; instead expect a set of keys to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Maybe it is a stretch but this mom has proven “when you put your wings on and fly,” anything is possible.
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