Second Lady Usha Vance has shared her experiences navigating motherhood with four children following the recent birth of her youngest son, Alec Neel Vance. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Vance described the early days with the newborn as "really lovely" and highlighted the enthusiastic involvement of her older children.
"One of the things that has just been beautiful to see is how excited my older kids are about their new brother," Vance said from the Vice President’s Residence. "They’re always fighting over holding him. 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 her children perceive the addition of a new sibling as a positive development, stating, "My older kids see this as only good for themselves. Like, there’s only one more kid to add to their pack. The parents are now outnumbered two to one!"
The couple announced the birth of Alec Neel Vance on July 19. Vance shared that she initially had anxieties about expanding their family, as their previous dynamic felt complete and her children were entering a new phase. However, she expressed gratitude for the decision to welcome another child.
"I’m really glad that we took this plunge. I’m really glad that we decided to move into the unknown and do something that felt like a little bit of a risk to a settled and happy family dynamic because it’s only become happier," she stated. The family is focused on ensuring each child receives individual attention, with Vance making an effort to have one-on-one outings.
"They feel like they’re getting their own personal time with both of us," Vance explained. "For example, we go out [of the residence] and do something every day. And we’ve been doing that since the day we came home from the hospital."
In addition to her family life, Vance is continuing to develop her podcast, “Storytime with the Second Lady.” The podcast aims to encourage children to engage with books and foster their own creativity in storytelling. The latest episode features an author reading a children's book about summer camp.
"One of the things we’re trying to do with this podcast is highlight authors of books to show [the children] that it’s not just reading that you can do. You can imagine your own stories. You can write them yourself," Vance said.
Vance has chosen literacy as a key initiative during her time as second lady, emphasizing its importance for young children. 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 visit to the White House.
As the end of summer approaches, the Vance family is preparing for the upcoming school year, focusing on gathering supplies and organizing clothing. Vance described their back-to-school traditions as a way to make the transition celebratory and less of a shock.
Former President Donald Trump congratulated the Vances on the birth of their son via a post on Truth Social, calling the baby "perfect."