ERROR RG P4 28.10.1998 An uncredited photograph of Trevor Moniz and family, appearing in yesterday's LIFESTYLE section, was taken by photographer Ann Spurling.

The parent trap for Bermuda's MPs is finding enough time to help run the Country -- and bring up a family.

With the General Election set for November 9, candidates and their families are being pushed to their limits in a bid to win a chance to serve their country.

Shadow Health and Social Services Minister and Hamilton East incumbent Renee Webb juggles a full time job at Emerald Financial, a political career and being the legal guardian to four-year-old Tiara.

"I have a strong family and friends supporting me -- without them it wouldn't be possible.

"My mother and sisters are great last-minute babysitters and I do a lot of praying.'' In addition to family and friends, Ms Webb said organisation was crucial in being a single parent.

"I've had to get Tiara organised,'' she explained. "She is not a typical four-year-old. She dresses herself, makes her own bed, gets her own cereal in the morning. Children learn very quickly how to be organised if you train them.

"She goes to Montessori which teaches children to be independent and I just build on that.

"It takes a lot of commitment. Once you're committed you just find a way to do it.'' But the political mum admitted there have been many occasions that have tested her resolve.

"There is many a day when you think `what am I doing?','' she said. "I'm a single parent so it is not easy. To release stress I exercise and read a lot.'' Ms Webb recalled several occasions where she found herself stretched to the limit.

"The first time Tiara was in Parliament she was two-months-old,'' she reminisced. "The baby sitter had to leave so I brought her to the House with me. A reporter watched her for me while I voted on a piece of legislation.

"Another time I was speaking in the House and I lost track of the time. I finally realised what time it was and that I had forgotten to pick her up. I passed a note to Dr. Ewart Brown and he ran out and picked her up from the Montessori for me before it closed.'' Ms Webb said she warned her relatives and friends that she would have to lean on them heavily once the General Election was called.

"They all knew that once the election was called they would have to kick in but I try to be home before she goes to bed.'' And Ms Webb urged any single parents considering entering into the political arena to weigh their decision carefully.

"It is not easy,'' she admitted. "It was a complete lifestyle change for me, I was already in politics when Tiara was born.

"I gave up some of the social functions when she was born to make it work.'' Balancing act for MPs "It is hard because the public expects you to be out there, they feel that they own you.

"People have to realise that MPs have lives and MPs have to realise that the public needs them as well. It is a real challenge, a real balancing act.

She added: "For MPs with children it is a sacrifice. Anyone contemplating a political career must realise the sacrifice that is involved.'' Smith's South UBP incumbent Trevor Moniz boasted the largest young family of any MP in the last session of the House of Assembly.

Mr. Moniz and his wife Yola are the proud parents of four children -- all under the age of four. Eldest Thomas is three, Gabrielle is two and twins Alice and Sophie are one-year-old.

"My wife carries most of the weight,'' he admitted. "I try to be there for them in the mornings before the nanny, Valerie, arrives at 8 a.m. I try to give them breakfast between 7 and 8 a.m.'' And Mr. Moniz said he also tries to spend some time with his little ones before they go to bed each night.

"I try to spend at least an half-an-hour with them either playing, feeding or reading to them,'' he said. "When the House sits I try to get home before they go to sleep, spend a little time with them and then return to the House.

"Although it may not be for long, my children know that they will see their father at least twice a day.'' But with the upcoming election, Mr. Moniz admitted that juggling family, work and politics had become difficult.

"Now it is hard. I get home by 5.30 and by 6 p.m. my partner Jim Woolridge and I are out canvassing.'' But the end is in sight once the election is over. Life will return back to `normal' in the Moniz household.

"We have been canvassing for the last six week at least five days a week, so we are into a groove.

"Maybe things will intensify a little bit,'' he added. "But now my wife knows that the end is in sight.'' Mr. Moniz said he found weekends to be the most difficult times to balance both a family and a political career.

"The nanny does not work on weekends so I have to let my wife know my schedule ahead of time so we can get some of the `weekend warriors' to come by to help. But I am usually with my family on Sunday mornings.'' Tourism Minister and Southampton West candidate David Dodwell said few people truly comprehended the burden placed on the shoulders of an MP's spouse.

"Families have to be very tolerant not only of the time you spend away from them but when your political life creeps into the little time you have with them,'' he explained. "There is also the social engagements. Some times my wife Margarita comes with me but it has become more difficult with the new baby.

"Stephanie is just one-year-old, so my wife has had some divided loyalties between supporting me and being with the baby. But as far as I'm concerned Stephanie should come first for her.'' Mr. Dodwell also pointed out that MPs' spouses also had to adjust to the fact that their partners had become public property -- even in the most private of times.

"It is hard for a spouse to spend an evening out with her husband, who at those moments is not an MP or a cabinet minister.'' Like Mr. Moniz, Mr. Dodwell gets an early start to the day so he can spend some quality time with his youngest child.

"We have also changed her sleeping schedule so she can spend some time with me during the evenings.

"There are never enough hours in the day to spend time with your family, the constituents, in a Government Ministry and on the job or on your business. But I am committed to them all.'' However, as their children make their way out of diapers and enter the teen years, balancing the campaign trail and family life becomes easier for MPs.

Pembroke East PLP candidate and Youth Development, Sports and Recreation Shadow Minister Nelson Bascome said electioneering had not had a major impact on his family life.

"I'm coping,'' admitted the father of two teens. "For myself, personally, it has been difficult because I am involved in a number of community projects. So while my biological children are not suffering from this, the kids I teach -- my extended children -- are.

"I coach a youth soccer team and teach drums and those children are like my own. As a result of the campaigning I have been thrown off base and I do not have enough time to devote to those areas as I usually do.'' But Mr. Bascome said the key to maintaining his home-life was family meals and Church.

"Meal time, breakfast and dinner, is very important,'' he explained. "We have to have that time to sit down together, touch base and discuss what has happened in the day.

"Our Sunday morning worship is also very important to our family,'' he said.

"We all go together and worship at Better Covenant Christian Fellowship.'' Mr. Bascome's comment that faith in Christ was a unifying feature in his family was echoed by his college PLP Sandys North incumbent Dennis Lister, the father of three young sons.

"Christian beliefs have unified us as a family,'' he said. "We know that by staying together we can accomplish all things.'' HOUSE FULL -- Smith's South UBP incumbent Trevor Moniz had the largest young family of any MP in the last session of the House of Assembly. Pictured are Alice (in Mr. Moniz's arms), Sophie in his wife Yola's arms, Gabrielle and Thomas. "My wife carries most of the weight,'' he admitted. "I try to be there for them in the mornings before the nanny, Valerie, arrives at 8 a.m. I try to give them breakfast between 7 and 8 a.m.'' BALANCING ACT -- The support of family and friends helps Hamilton East candidate Renee Webb juggle raising four-year-old Tiara, work and a political career. "I have a strong family and friends supporting me -- without them it wouldn't be possible. My mother and sisters are great last-minute babysitters and I do a lot of praying.'' In addition to family and friends, Ms Webb said organisation was crucial in being a single parent.

IN THE PUBLIC EYE -- Even in the most private moments, MPs are constantly in the public eye. Pictured are Tourism Minister and Southampton West incumbent David Dodwell, his wife Margarita and one-year-old daughter Stephanie.