Prime Minister’s Pregnancy Ignites Knitting Frenzy
Last week, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that her and her partner, Clarke Gayford, are preparing to welcome their first child this coming June. While initial reactions to her pregnancy were mixed at best, Ardern did state she would take a standard six weeks of maternity leave. As far as addressing concerns given her new situation, she made sure to note that she is not “the first woman to multitask [or] to work and have a baby,” in a news conference last Friday. Ardern made it very clear that her pregnancy would not get in the way of her leadership and plans for the country in the coming months. After her address, one New Zealand Woman took to Twitter to announce her plan to welcome Ardern’s child.
https://twitter.com/heatherkmcc/status/954457852185366530
Heather McCracken decided it would be pointless for her to knit something for the Prime Minister’s baby since the child will never want for anything, given Ardern’s prominent position. This led McCracken to reconsider where she would spend her talents and concluded that there are so many newborns in New Zealand who are unable to leave hospitals and go home in proper clothing, especially in the winter months. And soon enough #knitforjacinda was born.
The Twitter sphere has many positive thoughts and reactions to the new knitting movement.
https://twitter.com/beefaerie/status/955986936228818944
Due to the numerous responses to McCracken’s tweet, people participating in the #knitforjacinda have been encouraged to send their knits to the children’s department at Middlemore Hospital in Auckland.
HCXO,
Cat