OK, so you need more reasons to NOT Vote for McCain. Sarah Palin, the savior of the Republican ticket has some priorities out of alignment. True, she is a real Conservative and is good looking. Palin has been a busy lady; she won Miss Wasilla, then got second in the Miss Alaska, then she was a sports reporter, helped run the family commercial fishing business, and entered politics in 1992. She has done a good job at everything she has set out to do. Her husband, Todd Palin has been busy too, he has been racing snowmobiles and working in the oil industry.
Which begs the question; who has been raising the Palin’s 5 children? Sarah has been busy pursuing a career in politics and Todd has been busy with a full time job. Do the Palin take their kids to work? Do the Palin’s work at home? Are the children paid actors?
Two excellent examples of the Pailn’s parenting skills are given below.
Palin’s youngest child, Trig, has Down syndrome. Palin’s announcement that she was seven months pregnant generated publicity and surprise, as did the circumstances of Trig’s birth. More than a month before the baby was due, she was about to deliver the keynote address at a conference in Texas when she began leaking amniotic fluid. She delivered the speech before flying back to Alaska, giving birth seven hours after her return at the Mat-Su Valley Regional Medical Center. Sarah Palin returned to work three days later.
Lets think about this; Sarah Palin dumps her 3 day old baby with Down syndrome in daycare so she can return to work!
Bristol Palin, one of Alaska Gov. Palin’s five children with her husband Todd, is about five months pregnant and is going to keep the child and marry the father, the Palins said in a statement released by the campaign of Republican presidential candidate John McCain.
Lets think about this one too; Bristol Palin is a pregnant 17 year old. Did her parents dump her in daycare too, so they can pursue their careers?
I suggest one of the Palin parents quit their jobs and make their children a priority. This defiantly needs to happen before their kids get more screwed up.
I agree, i’ve also wondered about who takes care of the children, especially their infant who has down syndrome. I also think that Sarah would make a good vice president. I will admit it, I like things that she said in her speech, I like how down to earth she is. But I do think it’s sad that she chose a career over raising her children. I still think, however that she and McCain are a better choice than Obama, cause I don’t agree with his ideas, regardless of whether Sarah abandoned her children to the care of others.
I think you are holding her at a higher standard than you would a man. You’d never ask a man where he was 3 days after one of his children were born? Playing the special needs baby card is a joke too. Babies need the same things, whether with downs or not. If anything a downs baby is easier to take care of (at least the ones I’ve known). How do you know they put their kids in day care? Are you sure they don’t have a highly qualified nanny in their home? Would that even matter? Hundreds of THOUSANDs of men and women do the same thing everyday. You don’t live in her home and I don’t think you should judge her as a mother. I like her. I didn’t like how she glorified McCain in her speech, but she did a great job at what she needed to do. I don’t like McCain either, but I have to stand behind someone and the lesser of the two evils is the smarter route. CA always goes dem. anyway. Stinkin’ liberal state.
If it was a man or woman; I would still insist that one of the parents stay home with the kids. The older I get the more I realize the importance of the parents raising their children. I know not everyone can have one parent at home but if you can afford it, its really the best option.
I like Sara too, but it would be nice if her husband stayed home and raised the kids. I did hear that if she becomes the VP, then her husband would stay at home and raise the kids. I think this would be really good.
One last item, I might not vote for Obama now. Biden and Obama said some things that really bothered me. Looks like I might go with a 3rd party. I will write about the details later.
What it comes down to is the choices people make and the consequences of those choices. No, I am not in this woman’s home, I do not know what is happening. But it seems that the family is well enough off that they could afford to have a parent in the home. It appears to me that they made the choice to have the parents working. I do not believe you can have it all. I believe something falls out and in a lot of these cases it is the children that get handed over for someone else to take care of. I agree that the special needs “card” is not really the issue, that all babies need the attention of their parents, but it does kind of push this over the edge. Also – the spin on the radio the morning this was announced was “she is so pro-life that she did not abort this baby.” Wow. When did it become the norm to abort down syndrome babies? Anyway, this whole thing is kind of touchy for me because my mom worked when I was growing up and I have distinct memories of being home after school wishing she was there with me. I also have memories of being forgotton at school or dance class or somewhere else because everyone was too busy to get me or just plain forgot. I get pretty upset when I am at work late and there are mothers here and I know their kids are at home wishing they were there. One night it was a women’s initiative/social meeting and the women sat around and talked about how women should be more involved in running the place. I was so annoyed and frustrated the entire time. It was like they pushed their children to the back of their minds. No, I do not have children, I do not know what it is like, but I have been a child at home missing my mother. As with any situation where one thing is different, I know our relationship would be different if she didn’t have to work when I was young. I don’t know about better or worse, just different. I love my mother and I know she put forth a lot of effort to be really involved in my life. But I spent a lot more of my childhood with my dad and with my grandparents and I can tell the relationships are different. I know my mom wishes she could have done more, but I think she did all that she could. I DO NOT wish that my parents had fewer children. I love having so many siblings. Basically, no one lives in the ideal family, everyone makes choices, and everyone makes mistakes. We all come out with unique personalities that are influenced by our environment. I will admit I have not looked at the news at all lately and I don’t know anything about Palin’s politics. I just know that I would not want to be in her position, I believe that a lot of children have to pay the price for their parents’ choices, and I hope and pray that when I have children of my own I can be home with them.
It is just “normal” for women to work and choose careers nowadays. Most women don’t see the value of staying at home, and most are not supported by their husbands to do so. Also, it is hard to give up material things, blah, blah, blah… any one person can only handle so much. Something will always lapse, and unfortunately for her, her kids are the ones to suffer. But maybe they are not… I have seen some moms and think “Wow, I hope those kids make it out alive…” Also, kids can be just as screwed up with mom at home as with mom at work… usually the minority, but it still happens. I think I like her as a VP candidate, she makes McCain seem more likable. I don’t like him though- maybe I should run for president. I could bring my kids to all my meetings and drive everyone nuts.
Another reason why I love my wife, Becky, is because of her comment above.
I don’t necessarily agree with John’s political views, but this is a good post. The tricky thing about Palin is that the left can’t touch her on the working mother angle, especially after Hillary’s bitter primary loss, and the right is so desperate to win that they’ve turned hypocritical on their core values. And Becky, great comment. Well said.
In regards to your last statement, about her pregnant daughter. What about free agency and choice? I really hope that we don’t hold all parents to as a high standard as we do Palin. Plenty of kids from “good” homes make bad choices.
Does that mean that a person whose kids do drugs shoudn’t be a police officer, or a person whose daughter becomes pregnant at a young age shouldn’t be a teacher, because they obviously didn’t teach their child how to prevent pregnancy?
Many parents do the best that they can with their kids, and sometimes, their kids still rebel, even if they are stay-at-home parents, all their life. I just don’t find the fact that her daughter is pregnant, to be a compelling argument as to why she can’t be a good VP.
I still don’t know how I feel about her.
You really touched a nerve with this post, didn’t you John??
Kids are only small for a short time and if you can afford to have one parent stay home, why not! There is plenty of time for working and to have a career in your life, but you will only have those precious babies for a little while before they leave the nest. Although it is not easy to be at home with children, especially a “special needs” child, it is so worth it! But I do agree that everyone has a right to their own opinion and to make their own choices.
I can’t help it, I like to stir things up.
I do agree that sometimes, kids get screwed up no matter what the parents do but the probability is much higher when the parents are not proactively involved.
I didn’t want to vote for McCain or Obama…however since he has picked this running mate I am swinging for McCain now. I do think that kids are better off when the mother stays in the home. AS long as she isn’t physco! Who knows though…maybe they had Grandma watching the kids or a family member. I know if I lived in the same town as family and I had to work or the other way around, if my sisters had to work, I would definately watch their kids. I agree with my sister above though…you only have those kids for a little while and you only get one chance to be with them. If you screw it up, it affects them and their kids.
What fries me is that everyone is lauding her daughter for keeping the baby (yes abortion bad) and marrying the guy. The girls a teenager! If my daughter was in that position I’d be begging her to give the baby up for adoption and not jump into a relationship whose dynamics she can’t even fathom at 16! Yet sadly giving the baby up is probably a complete non-starter in the conversation. Perhaps I’m just extra sensitive when it comes to adoption issues but this is the type of thing that absolutely me infuriates me.
I agree adoption is good. That would definitely be the best option for the Palin’s daughter. My sister is adopted and she turned out great.
John and Abigail Adams left most of the kids in the U.S. while he served as a diplomat abroad, and I am glad they did.
I really like Becky and Holly’s posts- I agree, there is plenty of time in life to have careers, when the children are gone from home. Some have to have careers, to help support the family, but others choose to, and it is sad, because children need their mothers.
P.S. It was always my dad who forgot to pick me up. I have way more memories of being with my mom than the times I was home without her. Those few stick out to me because I missed her so much. I thought it was fun to go with my dad and visit mom at work. I think I had an awesome childhood and my parents gave me so many opportunites (to travel and be with family and do whatever activities I wanted). I don’t remember any field trips or school parties where one of my parent’s was not there. I love my parents and wouldn’t trade them for the world! (yeah, my dad called to straighten me out) Mom and Dad, just wait until I have kids, I won’t have a clue what I’m doing!
you really do have good parents, you can tell your mom is so proud of all of her children.
Sweet, 18 comments.
I think I set a record.
One last item, My parents left me at a young age to an angry pack of wolves. I learned how to kill and eat rabbits by the angry wolves. Later, I moved back in with my parents and a monkey. The monkey was the favorite of the family and I was constantly seeking attention from a plant named Fred who lived in the corner. After a few years, Fred finally died from the cold and I packed my bags and moved out. I took all my worldly possessions, walked across the plains with my red wagon and setup home in a cave with some angry wolves.
So, the bottom line, my parents did a damn good job of raising me; except for the angry wolves and monkey.
I would just like to point out a couple of insensitive and uneducated people. Don’t be so narrow minded.
Stew: “The girls a teenager! If my daughter was in that position I’d be begging her to give the baby up for adoption.”
Would you really tell your daughter after nine months of carrying a child that she just has to give it someone else? Even if there is no father in the picture how could you be so insensitive? Do you not realize that many single mothers raise children on their own without a hitch? Let me speak really slow for you… A teenager is capable of raising a baby. Not every situation is the same so don’t generalize that every teenager should give their baby up for adoption. I would hope that you don’t have a daughter in that situation. Just for her sake.
John: “Bristol Palin is a pregnant 17 year old. Did her parents dump her in daycare…?”
If you weren’t aware, I have a 6 year old daughter that was raised by a single teenage mother. When her parents found out she was pregnant they did not “beg her to give the baby up for adoption,” and they weren’t “accused of dumping her in a daycare.” Just because the daughter is pregnant does not mean that you can imply that the mother is a poor example and subsequently a poor running mate. People make their own decisions and even with good parenting people do not always make the best choice.
John: “adoption is good. That would definitely be the best option for the Palin’s daughter.”
Do you know the situation so well that you could say what the best option would be? The best choice is her choice.
I’m a working parent. I was a single parent. My co-worker was a teenage mother to twins. To say that the absolute best answer for everyone is the same answer is naive at best.
Yes, the teachings of the Church advocate the mother staying at home but I know a few women who are honestly much better parents when they are working. Unless you know for a fact that it was the parenting decisions instead of the actions of an accountable young adult that caused Bristol’s pregnancy, it really should be a non-factor. My mother was married at 17. Was she irresponsible and the product of bad parenting simply because she made an adult decision before the age of 18 or 20?
How many stay at home moms return to work immediately after giving birth? If her job is to care for the home and family, she returned probably within 24 hours of an uncomplicated birth. Being a stay at home parent is more time-consuming and harder work than going to an office everyday. I admire Sarah Palin for showing that the choices are out there if the woman decides to work. Thats what its all about-choices.
Do I think that the ideal situation is the mother in the home? Yes. We’re working towards that right now because I believe its important. Do I feel like I have the right to judge another family for the choices they make? Nope. I may not like their decisions but I like to think that people do what they think is best in their families.
Excellent points.
My intention was to spur some debate and get people’s point of view. Everyone who goes to our website is more than welcome to disagree with what is written and even debate the issues. I enjoy a lively debate and welcome hearing other points of view. Especially points of view that differ from mine. I think this post is turning into something beautiful.
I agree, that no one can judge another and every situation is different. Also, I really don’t care about Bristol Palin’s pregnancy and whether she keeps the kid or not.
My beef is with Sarah and Todd Palin. I think Todd should be staying home raising the kids. From what I know, I have not seen this happen yet.
Jeff:
“Just give it [to] someone else”, yes I probably would. Look your experience may be different and your lucky. But you have to try and understand that not everyone has your experience. I’ve had many friends who have gotten pregnant as teens who chose to keep their babies and the reality is they’ve struggled all the more afterwards in their lives. Now undoubtedly they wouldn’t change their experiences for the world but that’s them.
Further as one of the thousands of couples struggling with infertility everytime I see a teen pushing her child in a stroller I cannot help but think that I have so much to offer that I cannot give to that child. Perhaps I wrote my first post out of the passion of the moment, but you have to remember that every individual has a motivation that drives the words they say and the things they feel passionate about. The internet’s major weakness in this regard is that it conveys the opinion without conveying the motivation or the intended tone.