Second Lady Usha Vance recently spoke candidly about the joys and adjustments of life with her fourth child, Alec Neel Vance, who was born on July 19. In her first interview since the baby's arrival, Vance described the experience as "really lovely" and highlighted the enthusiasm of her older three children for their new brother.
"They're always fighting over holding him," Vance told Fox News Digital. "When we do diaper changes or clothes changes, one of them is always there helping. They're willing to burp him, they want to grab things for him, they want to entertain him." She noted that the older children's needs are "complimentary with his," viewing the addition as another member of their "pack."
Vance and Vice President JD Vance announced Alec's birth on Instagram, stating that Usha and the baby were healthy and the older children were "overjoyed to meet their little brother."
To manage the family's needs, Vance emphasized the importance of dedicated one-on-one time with each child, including the newborn. "They feel like they're getting their own personal time with both of us," she said. Vance described a practice of going out for an activity with one child each day since returning from the hospital, recounting a recent trip to a bookstore with her middle child.
Despite initial anxieties about how a fourth child might alter their family dynamic, Vance expressed gratitude for the decision. "I'm really glad that we took this plunge," she stated. "It's only become happier."
Literacy Initiative
Beyond her family life, Vance continues to develop her podcast, "Storytime with the Second Lady." The podcast features authors and aims to encourage children to not only read books but also to imagine and create their own stories. Vance sees literacy as a crucial area for making a "concrete change" as Second Lady, stressing the importance of fostering a love for reading from a young age.
She is also promoting the White House Summer Reading Challenge, encouraging kindergarten through eighth-grade students to read 12 books by the end of August for a chance to win prizes, including a White House visit.
As summer wanes, Vance's family is preparing for the upcoming school year by gathering supplies and organizing wardrobes. She described their back-to-school traditions as a way to make the transition a "celebratory thing."