The book, called ‘Mum’s Busy Work,’ acknowledges and celebrates the relationship between working mums and their children.
She says the idea came from things her own daughter has said to her.
Ardern famously gave birth to her daughter Neve in 2018 while Prime Minister, making her the world’s second elected head of government to give birth while in office. She stepped down from the role in January 2023.
In an Instagram video announcing the book, due to land in September, the former PM credited “procrastination”, for the motivation to create the book.
“It’s actually been in the making for a really long time, although it wasn’t really planned,” Jacinda explained in the clip, in which she apologised for the noise of ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks’ playing the background, implying her daughter was nearby.
“Back when I was writing my valedictory to leave Parliament I wanted to do anything other than write that speech, so I ended up writing this instead.”
“It’s based on things that my daughter would say to me, when I was working as the Prime Minister,” she continued. “I hope that it captures that, no matter what we are doing, no matter what roles we have, that incredible love we have for our kids.”
The artwork for the book has been created by Kiwi illustrator Ruby Jones, who came to attention with her simple but moving drawings focusing on community, love and hope, following the March 2019 Christchurch terrorist attacks.
A preorder page from Penguin, the same publisher that is releasing Ardern’s upcoming memoir, titled “A Different Kind of Power,” says ‘Mum’s Busy Work’ will show how, ‘even when a parent and their child are apart during the day, the love between them is unquestionable’.
It includes an excerpt about a child bemoaning having to go to daycare.
Today I got out of bed and asked Mum
what day it was. ‘Monday,’ she said.
I asked if that was a day care day.
She said yes. I stomped my feet.
Even though day care is fun, it’s still hard not to miss Mum throughout the week! But despite her busy job, there’s always time for stories, time for games, time for hugs, and time for love.
For every copy sold a donation will be made to the Kindness Collective organisation. The Kindness Collective is a nationwide charity that helps support children and families with everyday needs and little moments of joy, during challenging times.
