Forget 9-to-5. Mothering knows no schedule—and often it feels more like 5-to-9 and everything in between. In this new series, we look at the hectic, messy, sometimes beautiful, often frustrating enterprise of being a mother—and maintaining a life of your own. Consider it a “day in the life” for the forgotten hours. Read previous installments, from Jemima Kirke and Hilaria Baldwin.
It’s midafternoon, and it’s already been a busy day. This morning, I sat down with Chipotle Founder Steve Ells for a moderated conversation for administration staffers. Then, I surprised the 2024 Little League Softball World Series champions from Greenville, North Carolina, in the White House Press Briefing room. Now, I’m boarding Air Force One to travel with President Biden to Arizona, where he will be outlining his record of transformative investment in Indian Country and issuing a historic presidential apology for the federal Indian boarding school era. Once I got settled on the plane, I started to prep for the gaggle I will do with the traveling press pool.
Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland joined me for the press gaggle on Air Force One en route to Arizona. When President Biden travels, I speak to members of the press who travel on the plane with us. I usually give a rundown of the trip before taking questions. This gaggle with Secretary Haaland was incredibly touching. She spoke about how President Biden has led on generational change for Indigenous communities, such as expanding access to electricity on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona for homes that have never had electricity or protecting cultural resources, like salmon, which Pacific Northwest tribes have depended on for thousands of years.
We landed in Arizona just before 6 p.m. local time, which makes it 9 p.m. ET at home in Washington, DC. On the tarmac in Phoenix, President Biden was greeted by several leaders of tribal nations, as well as elected officials.
I set out my makeup brushes in the hotel room so I can get ready when I come back from the gym. I have to be camera-ready every day, as I’m often in front of press or have to do an interview on the fly. I learned how to do makeup during COVID. I had to do TV hits from home, so a friend who is a makeup artist gave me lessons. It used to take me over an hour, but now I can get it done in about 15 to 30 minutes.
I start the morning with a run outside. It’s such great weather this time of year, and the run gave me a chance to see the palm trees and mountains near our hotel. Our travel days can be jam-packed, so sometimes this is my only time to explore the city we are visiting.
After my run, I head to the gym. My time there is my me time, and no matter how busy we are, I always try to get a couple of minutes in. I started running at the age of 14, and exercise is ingrained in me as stress relief.
I get back to my hotel room and get ready for the day. I’m known for wearing bright colors when I do press briefings, and today is no different. Bright colors make me happy. Now that it’s cooler I’m starting to wear pants again more; it’s also much easier on travel days when there’s a lot of movement.
I head to our prep for the morning, where we’ll meet with President Biden and discuss the day ahead.
While we meet, I have a few bites of this croissant for a quick breakfast. On normal mornings at the White House, I start my morning off with matcha. If it’s the summer, I make a matcha smoothie; in the fall or winter, I make a matcha latte with oat milk. I recently bought a frother and have perfected my latte. It’s a total game changer.
We have a 35-minute ride to the Gila River Indian Community, where President Biden will be giving remarks. Today will be his first visit to Indian Country as president. I usually spend this travel time in the car checking emails, taking calls, or touching base with the rest of the press team back at the White House.
The president is speaking at the Gila Crossing Community School. We arrived a few minutes before he was set to speak. I loved this message I saw in the window of a classroom.
I watch President Biden give a speech on the actions he and Vice President Harris have taken to support Indian Country throughout their administration, including three executive orders, historic investment in tribal community infrastructure, and funding for Native communities to invest in climate resilience and adaptation programs. Today, President Biden also issued a historic presidential apology for the federal Indian boarding school era. For over 150 years, the federal government ran boarding schools that forcibly removed generations of Native children from their homes to boarding schools often far away. The federally run Indian boarding school system was designed to assimilate Native Americans by destroying Native culture, language, and identity through harsh militaristic and assimilationist methods. In making this apology, the president acknowledges that we, as a people who love our country, must remember and teach our full history, even when it is painful—and we must learn from that history so that it is never repeated. It was an incredibly emotional, raw, and beautiful speech. I’m so proud to work for the Biden-Harris administration and travel alongside him during historic moments like this.
On our flight back, I drank hot water with lemon and honey. It’s one of my go-to’s when traveling to make sure that I stay hydrated. I don’t drink coffee, so if I’m not drinking a bottle of water, this is what I have. Later, on the flight home, I got a call from my elementary-school-aged daughter, who told me all about her day.
We land in Delaware, where we are staying for one night before heading to Pennsylvania. Tomorrow, President Biden will be campaigning for Vice President Harris in Pittsburgh.
In my bag, I have two boxes of M&Ms from Air Force One—I always bring them back for my daughter. I also always try to bring her a t-shirt or stuffed animal back from the various cities we visit, and if we’re on a longer trip, I love to send her a postcard. It’s so important to me to do things like this to make sure we stay connected while I’m away—she knows I’m always thinking about her!
I loved this picture of Diana Ross and the Supremes hanging in my hotel room. I usually read on long trips, but I do love music when I need to pump myself up. Earlier this year, I created a playlist for all my favorite songs to listen to before I go out for a press briefing. Diana Ross sang at the White House for a holiday event in 2012, when President Biden was Vice President Biden. We’re already starting to gear up for the holiday festivities this year; it’s a magical time to visit the White House.
We head out for a quick dinner in Wilmington, Delaware. Wilmington is President Biden’s home city, and I love any chance we get to visit. On our way out to dinner, we passed The Queen theater, which is where then President-elect Biden spent time transitioning after he was elected president. After dinner, I’m off to bed, and in the morning, we’re wheels up again.