Muriel Bowser is the first woman to serve as a two-term mayor of Washington, D.C. She’s also the first single mother to do so.
Bowser adopted a baby girl, Miranda, in 2018. The district’s first daughter became available to her when she was least expecting it—the middle of her reelection campaign.
“I was daunted by it,” Bowser said at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit on Wednesday about the adoption. At the same time, “I was clear there are many ways to make a family … I made the decision for myself and for my family personally.”
Bowser began the adoption process in late 2017.
“I didn’t know that many people who had gone through the adoption process,” she said. “Everybody told me it could be a year, two years, or longer. So I thought I had better get started.”
Then Miranda was born one month before her primary. Suddenly, she was managing a political career and a newborn baby on her own.
“When you’re a mayor of a city, it’s hard to be out of town ever. It’s hard to be doing anything for yourself,” she said. But she wanted to be with her daughter, so she decided to take two weeks off. Less than that, really, because issues in the district still required her attention. “It’s different for city officials to not be seen on the scene when something is happening … People were very supportive, but at the same time, they want their mayor when they want their mayor.”
But Bowser managed it. “I am my boss,” she said.
Her scheduling hack: Be as consistent as you can to have reliable child care that you trust. And keep commitments you make to your daughter.
More than a year later, Bowser is reflective. After the adoption, she was struck by how many people were touched by her story and came forward with their own adoption stories. And new motherhood, she said, “opened my eyes to all decisions moms and dads make during that time immediately after birth or adoption.”
More must-read stories from Fortune’s MPW Summit:
—Eva Longoria calls for greater diversity in Hollywood, business
—”I don’t regret enforcing the law.” Former DHS head Nielsen defends family separation in heated interview
—Why 3 major companies decided to take a stand on gun violence
—Tulsi Gabbard calls Hillary Clinton’s Russian jabs “outrageous” at Fortune’s MPW Summit
—Anita Hill calls on candidates to address gender violence
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