Mothering a Nation

This post is part of the Global Mom Relay . Every time you share this blog, $5 will go to women and girls around the world. Scroll to the bottom to find out more.

From an early age, my father, a doctor, inspired me to pursue medicine and politics. At just seven years old, I joined the Norwegian Labour Movement as part of its children's program and have been a member ever since.

When I moved with my family to the United States at age 10, I also developed a global perspective that would lead me in my all of my future endeavors. As a mother, doctor, political leader, director-general of the World Health Organization, and UN envoy, I was passionate about improving the health and well-being of everyone across the globe, especially women and children. This is because we can't achieve any of our global goals without first addressing the challenges women and children face.

When I served as Prime Minister of Norway for more than 10 years, I was called "mother of the nation." This was such an honor -- as the title of mother is something to be proud of!

Being a mom is one of the most rewarding, empowering, and challenging roles. We need to support every mother and caregiver to create a healthier, happier world. That is why I've joined the Global Mom Relay and hope you will help share it forward to unlock the potential.

Each time you share this Global Mom Relay piece on Facebook, Twitter, or Email, or donate $5 or more through clicking on the above graphic, a $5 donation (up to $62,500 per week or $125,000 every two weeks) will be donated by Johnson & Johnson and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to theGlobal Alliance for Clean Cookstoves . Join us by sharing it forward and unlock the potential for women and children around the globe. For more information, visitwww.unfoundation.org/globalmomrelay . The United Nations Foundation, Johnson & Johnson, BabyCenter, The Huffington Post, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation created the Global Mom Relay, a first-of-its-kind virtual relay with a goal of improving the lives of women and children around the globe.