The new governor wore white, to honor the suffragettes who came before her. She was sworn into office with her husband and three daughters by her side. I was touched by the clip I watched of the ceremony. This is the first time in the history of the commonwealth that a woman has taken the reins of power. But what captured my interest even more is that Abigail Spanberger’s three daughters reminded me so much of my own. Not in their ages, mine are all grown up now, but in their spacing and names.

One is named Claire, same as my middle daughter. Another is named Charlotte, same as my niece. And the third is named Catherine, which though not held by anyone in my immediate family is still one of those classic names that I love and which harmonizes so well with the other names Spanberger chose.

I can’t imagine what these girls must have felt watching their mother be inaugurated as Virginia’s first female governor. But I can imagine what it might have been like before the ceremony. Did someone not like the coat she was wearing? Was someone else having a bad hair day?

I mean no disrespect to the solemn transfer of power, but as the mother of three daughters I can’t help but wonder if there was a backstory to Saturday’s festivities. And because the new governor is the mother of these girls, I imagine if there was one, she was attuned to it.

(Photo, courtesy Spanberger for governor.)