The iconic image of young John F. Kennedy Jr. peeking out from beneath the Resolute Desk as his father, President John F. Kennedy, worked in the Oval Office became a symbol of the 1960s — a decade filled with hope, ambition and the promise of a brighter future for America.

Contrast that with a recent scene: Elon Musk, at age 53, bringing his four-year-old son to the Oval Office during an important governmental meeting. It was an odd sight. What was this child doing there? Musk is not John F. Kennedy. Could he not find a babysitter? Surely, as the richest man in the world, he could afford a nanny.

This reminded me of when Sen. Tammy Duckworth brought her newborn daughter to Congress to celebrate the ruling that allowed a baby on the chamber floor. The child, bundled in a winter coat while indoors and picking his nose like any typical child, was certainly adorable. But I couldn’t help but wonder — what was Musk trying to project with his public display?

As a working parent, I recall times I struggled with child care, sometimes bringing my child to work, feeling guilt and anxiety about professional repercussions. Many........

© The Korea Times