In case you missed it, the working week ended with a bomb of a comment made by hedge fund manager billionaire Paul Tudor Jones at a UVA-sponsored event back in April. In short, he believes women lose focus and become emotionally distracted when they become mothers.
But why paraphrase when the actual words are so much more entertaining:
“As soon as that baby’s lips touched that girl’s bosom, forget it,” Jones said. “Every single investment idea, every desire to understand what’s going to make this go up or go down is going to be overwhelmed by the most beautiful experience which a man will never share about a mode of connection between that mother and that baby.”
He adds, “You will never see as many great women investors or traders as men. Period. End of story.”
Forget the creepy use of the word bosom, and chalk it up to his post-Mad Men upbringing.
A mother doesn’t tell her child to “put it back” because she’s fuzzy about finances. It’s because she knows the lease tax on the minivan is due next month, and there are three birthday parties to buy presents for. Also, apples are expensive this time of year.
When a mom tells her child to go apologize to the neighbor’s son for fighting over a nerf gun, it’s not because she was emotionally distracted by their arguing. It’s because she knows it’s important to get along with our neighbors.
When she turns off the television and tells her kids to finish their homework, it’s because she understands the importance of follow-through and deadlines and sticking to commitments.
You see, Paul, you’ve got it all wrong.
When a mom puts a baby to her breast in those precious seconds after childbirth, whether she ends up breastfeeding or not, her life zooms into hyperfocus. Every nonessential, irrelevant, wasteful notion, every squabble and tussle, every syllable of every word not moving life forward in a positive direction drifts away. Birth is when the fog lifts. Birth is when every mother’s priorities ignite. Looking into her child’s eyes, all she sees, smells, and tastes is responsibility.
A working mother brings focus and determination to the workplace because she can’t, won’t lose any income for her family, because tuition is due Aug. 17, and there’s hockey equipment to buy. Also, apples are expensive this time of year. 
My name is Jennifer Karin. I run a profitable division at a fast-growing, national PR Firm. I have three children.
How about you? Moms, step-moms, involved aunties, please introduce yourself below. I’m sure Paul Tudor Jones would love to hear from you.
