Prominent working moms Maria Shriver and Meredith Vieira have been in the news this week. Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger disclosed their separation after questions from the media. And Meredith Vieira announced she will step down from the Today Show in June, to be replaced by Ann Curry, also a working mother.
Maria Shriver has championed work-life balance and other causes close to my heart, both as first lady of California and now, through her annual women's conference and Web site. I've appreciated the opportunity to interview her and to write about the discussions she facilitated through her bully pulpit. I wish her and her family -- including four children -- strength through this tough time. Given that she's written honestly about her identity crisis in leaving journalism when Schwarzenegger won the California election, I'm sure the next chapter in her life will produce equally interesting and thoughtful reflections.
As for Meredith Vieira, she led the way for journalists balancing a demanding career with her family life. She left "60 Minutes" after becoming pregnant with her second child, and her success on the national stage serves as a role model for other working parents worried that the mommy track will end their careers. She's leaving the Today Show after five years as co-host.
"I've really had a great time, but time is one of those weird things; you can never get enough of it," she said. "And it just keeps ticking away, and I know that I want to spend more of mine with my husband, Richard, and my kids, Ben, Gabe and Lily."
What do you think of the life transitions ahead for Maria Shriver and Meredith Vieira? Please share your thoughts.
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