J.D. and Usha Vance Parent on National Stage

Yesterday, newly-inaugurated Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife, Usha, gracefully faced what many parents might understandably consider a DEFCON-1, red-alert situation:

Wrangling three young, tired children at a prestigious, nationally televised event while sitting next to the President of the United States.

I’m not a parent, and I’m pretty sure even I’ve had that nightmare.

The young family arrived at the National Parade yesterday dressed to the nines, with Vance carrying three-year-old Mirabel and Usha preventing 7- and 4-year-old Ewan and Vivek from tumbling headfirst down the Capital One Arena steps.

The couple spent the next half an hour or more holding, blocking, sitting with and shuffling their children around their seats. There was bouncing, standing on chairs, lolling in uncontrolled boredom, and, of course, conversations with President Trump. Thumbs were sucked. Teddy bears were almost dropped into the parade.

You can watch some of the hilarity here:

There’s something refreshing about prominent parents being unashamed about being, well, a family.

Children are undeniable, joyful blessings. They are also frequently inconvenient. They can be messy, hyper, stubborn and fussy. They get tired easily. They don’t tend to enjoy sitting down for long periods of time.

The Vances included their children in a life-changing event when many might have deemed them too inconvenient to bring along. In doing so, J.D. and Usha demonstrated that they consider themselves, first and foremost, parents.

Parenting, at its core, is a constant, selfless pursuit. It requires parents to deprioritize their own interests — and sometimes, sanity — in favor of caring for and guiding the little blessings they’ve been trusted with.

And there are no days off.

The constancy of parenting has been minimized in American culture. Too many new parents feel like it’s too much to ask. Restless kids are plopped in front of screens so parents can “take a break.” Teaching kids how to behave is increasingly farmed out to schools and daycares, which some argue should be free.

The Vances clearly do not subscribe to this view. They didn’t take time off from parenting to make their own experience less stressful. Perhaps they understand that celebrating and spending time with their children is more rewarding than looking perfect for the cameras.

That’s a powerful illustration of godly parenting and familial commitment — one I hope many families will find affirming and uplifting.