Raising Children at the Top
i know politics are all people are talking about, especially Sarah Palin. Will you indulge me for a moment and leave your opinions? i adore this woman for many reasons, one of which she is a mom just like me. She reminds me of someone i would run into at the grocery store. Her speech last night was inspiring!
She is coming under criticism. People question if she can handle being a mom to 5 kids (one with special 
needs), and the responsibility of a vice president. Would this be a question if she was a man? i heard this morning that fellow women are even questioning her. This really saddens me! It almost seems we as women are hindering the breaking of the glass ceiling Hillary Clinton cracked. What happened to women being able to do anything a man can? My neighbor has a child with cerebral palsy, she is a single mom and has to work (the seperation is amicable and both parties agreed). Is she judged for her decisions? my mom used to watch a little girl with severe disabilities. Was her mom judged for working? Perhaps a double standard..hhmm. Sarah Palin has an amazing husband (not to mention easy on the eyes *wink*) and he is very hands on. If you are a mother who has a child with special needs, wouldn’t you want an advocate that close to the top instead of questioning if she can be a mom and a vice president? Was JFK questioned about these things, if he could handle being a father and a president with young children?
Politics aside (i am having to bite my tongue because she has already been a successful Governor with an 80% approval rating), she represents the very lesson we teach our daughters. You can do anything you want! my 4 year old daughter talks about how she wants to “be a doctor who helps mommies have babies” and wants to have her own babies when she “gets big as you (me, her mommy)”. i don’t say well, honey, i’m not sure if you can handle the pressure and time commitment. NO, i say awesome (and in my head think, i hope she can get some scholarships)! Actually, my fabulous OB-GYN, Dr Wentross, her hubby is a stay at home dad who does an amazing job. i suspect Todd Palin (First Dude as he likes to be called) will be one as well, if he isn’t already. Wouldn’t you want a mommy at the top who understands what its like raising kids and being a working mom?
If you missed her speech….part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4
i am really curious to hear what everyone else thinks about this subject. This is about being a high powered working mom, not politics. Please no political statements.
September 4th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
I totally appreciate your post and point of view. I tell my daughter she can be anything she wants to be! And through the example of both Hillary and Sarah Palin, she is seeing that. My daughter, at 11, was asking why people were being critical of her being a mom.
If we were hearing equal press about how Obama could be dad and president maybe that would make this a more fair, though equally ignorant question.
At any rate, I appreciate your post.
September 6th, 2008 at 6:44 am
You make some very valid points. I think the questioning really comes as a way for people to make it known they don’t want her in office. But for so many other American moms she really makes a connection. I’m in awe of her accomplishments!
September 6th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
I think every person has the right to make these personal decisions for themselves and this is not up for debate by the public at large. She has a proven record that we can all judge her on. If her family were to get in the way it would have already been evident, so why are we hypothosizing when we don’t have to. The only time we need to do that is when the variable leaves us blank, as with a no record person like Obama.
September 6th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
I totally agree with your point of view too. It’s too bad that people are questioning her ability to do her job and manage a household with 5 children, one with special needs. I think many moms can identify with her. And she does seem like someone you’d be friendly with if you were to bump into her at the playground while your kids were playing together.
I think it’s great that you’re already instilling that important value in your daughter that you can do anything you set your mind to. I think it’s especially important for girls to hear that as they grow up!
September 8th, 2008 at 1:35 am
You make so many great points and I agree with you. I also appreciate you posting the speech!
September 8th, 2008 at 1:42 am
We teach our daughters that all of their dreams are possible. When a woman has accomplished a dream…Wife, Mother of Five, Governor and Vice Presidential Candidate…it is too late to say whether or not it is possible.
http://www.alaska-chapters.com
September 8th, 2008 at 8:37 am
I really agree with this. It’s such a double standard. I have 3 daughters and always stress how they can be anything they want to be.
September 8th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
While I agree that a man wouldn’t be asked the questions that are being raised around the Sarah Palin nomination, once a person of either gender places themselves in such a prominent position, they put themselves under the spotlight, and any question may be posited. But let’s not be blinded by the false issue of whether or not these questions are valid, let’s look at the more important question of whether or not her history supports women’s causes, and ultimately the freedom of choice that she has certainly availed herself of.
September 9th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Even though I’m in South Africa, I’ve been following this debate with interest. I agree with you that the same questions would not be asked of a male candidate.
September 11th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
She is definitely under scrutiny and judgement. This will an interesting election.