How much of the career differences between male and female MPs are driven by differences between mothers and fathers? To what extent does parenting increase the probability of an interruption of one’s political career, and what are the long-term consequences for parliamentary spells and the further political career prospects? Findings in labour economics tell us that differences in career outcomes and the gender pay gap are mainly driven by the so-called motherhood penalty and that children can even have a career boosting effect for fathers. Using biographical entries of some 12.000 German state MPs from 1946 to 2019 we investigate the long-term effects of having children on political careers.