A Soccer Mom’s Take on Palin
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One mom’s take on Sarah Palin and why she should not be VP.
I have spent my entire life a budding feminist. I was an only child of a single parent in the 70’s and my mother worked full time to support us. She was a minority at the time and I saw in her life that a woman can do anything and everything if she chooses to.
I have lived the life of a liberated woman; I am divorced, re-married and my husband and I have four kids between us. I had a career in the financial industry before I had kids at 28 and I currently have a career in real estate that allows me to juggle my time between work and family and am fortunate that my current husband supports prioritizing my kids as much as possible.
When my first child was born, I learned something very important; I realized that one of the greatest contributions I could make to society would be to nurture my child and teach her all I could about love and commitment myself. I felt that if I could sacrifice and spend as much time with her as possible, especially in her early years, being her primary caregiver would build between us a bond that would make her a better, more secure individual who could then take that sense of connection out into the world without hesitation. I am not saying that caregivers who are not parents cannot offer much love and compassion but there is no role like mother (or father who in some cases is the primary caregiver) that has so much influence over a child’s development, character and confidence.
Some parents are unable to stay home with their children. Due to financial responsibility, both parents must work to make ends meet. I know these decisions are difficult and I am sure that all mothers agonize over being unable to care for their small children on their own. What I don’t understand are women who choose not to prioritize their children and strive more for power and public recognition than to build a strong and consistent relationship with their own children.
This is how I feel about Sarah Palin. Here is a woman relatively unknown nationally until a few weeks ago who is now in line to be one of the most powerful people in the world. She has talked publicly about her choice to give birth to a special needs child but who will care for that child on a daily basis as she heads to Washington? Am I the only one who has looked at both Presidents and Vice Presidents in years past and noticed how much they age in the four years of constant demands on their time and energy? The schedules are physically grueling and mentally I imagine the pressure of responsibility for a nation might take a daily toll on someone. Add to that someone who at the end of the day has kids that cry out for “mommy” not knowing where she is and why she is unavailable to them consistently.
Don’t think that I am against a woman in a position of power in general. I absolutely believe a woman could make a wonderful leader of our nation and the last few months have encouraged me that it is only a matter of time before it happens but give me someone whose kids are grown and self sufficient, who is not abandoning small children at home. Give me someone who is nationally known and recognized; active in both national and international politics for years before they would even consider running for this high an office.
My mom’s lesson to me at an early age was absolutely true: a woman can do anything and everything. Just not all at the same time and still do it well. Where will Sarah Palin fall short? At home or in the White House? I think it is a shame either way and if she is such a great politician, she should consider running on her own eight or more years from now.
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8 Comments
Hi, Michelle,
I love your perspective on parenting! And I love your name too, it is my sister’s name! I also appreciate your Mom’s lessons and example that she passed on to you.
You are right about the graying of our leaders in office. Of course, I’ve noticed that in myself as well, during especially difficult seasons. But how much so the President!
The questions you ask about Governor Palin are HUGE and GREAT questions. Unfortunately, I don’t hear this debate in the national press. People gloss over it. My family has made tough decisions like this in the past, and it is excruciating and you don’t know how it ends up, really, until the end, which I’m not at yet!
But this is a decision for Gov. Palin and her family to make. Who can blame her for trying? Perhaps she has been raised up to be a great leader at this time? Only God knows how that will impact her family. Or maybe this isn’t about Mrs. Palin at all. Maybe these events will make one or more of her children world changers (for good, of course). In any case, I’m glad my wife and I aren’t in the Palin’s shoes. What a difficult decision.
I appreciate your honest discussion and for asking deeper questions that integrate public and private life. Hardly anyone does this but it is vital because it is where we live day to day!
Real name is Stephanie; Michelle is my middle name. I wrote a scathing rant about Christian forgiveness that would have sent my in-laws into cardiac arrest and it was the first thing I had published so I used my middle name just in case.
Thanks for taking the time to read all that I have written and comment. I haven’t quite figured out yet how to get more people to read and then comment. My friends and family aren’t very helpful!
great idea except for the fact that palin is NOT a single parent. so are you saying that her husband isnt capable of raising their kids? you know their is more to a family than just the one parent, shes not alone and has help. this is never a problem when a man runs for office but it all the sudden becomes a huge problem when a woman runs for office? you are grasping at straws here and come off as a sexist person.
what about obama and his ties to a terrorist, and rev. wright, and his lack of experience? at least palin is only running for vice president, obama is wanting to run the country with less experience than palin and way more baggage.
who should we be more worried about? a guy with little experience and ties to a terrorist and an extreme racist/america basher who obama has credited with helping to shape him. OR a woman who has little experience (more than obama though) and a pretty clean record. its easy to tell that liberals are afraid of her because of the lame arguements they have as reasons she shouldnt be VP, (like how she should be at home watching the kids, or that she fired an A-hole trooper).
how ignorant and biased do you have to be to not even think that her husband could take care of the kids when she is not around?
I think it’s a pretty bold move to judge Sarah Palin’s relationship with her children when it’s very probable that you don’t know her personally.
There are many children out there with hard working fathers who would say they have a good relationship with them. Why does it have to be any different with a hard working mom?
I appreciate the article and an honest opinion about why someone is not voting for Palin. People who are spouting why they won’t vote for Obama or McCain seem to be repeating the same old, oft spoken quotes about Rev.Wright/Terrorist/More Bush/out of touch/voted with bush/
This is the first article/blog that I have read where someone gives an honest, fresh, SINGULAR opinion. A long time ago there was an old saying, “opinions are like behinds, everyone has one”. Recently, however, there have been fewer opinions, and more repetition.
Thanks
I would say (and do say) in my commentary that dads are perfectly capable of taking care of their children. Problem here is Palin’s husband also works full time so he is not a stay at home dad.
If you are ignorant enough to think that in any family the role of mommy and daddy are the same, not matter what the situation, I feel sorry for you. It means that you don’t care who is taking care of the family, as long as someone has the role; babysitter, nanny, complete stranger in after school care. No matter how you slice it, there are reasons moms have the role they have in childrens’ lives and you can choose to make the most of yours or put other things first. I don’t have to know Sarah Palin to know that she has a special needs infant she is NOT going to be able to be a primary caretaker for and she had a choice; run for office now or say, “not now, but maybe another time” and that is now what she chose.
Hello,
You seem angry at your commenters (or at least one of them). Calling people “ignorant” who take the time to respond to your column is not an effective public relations strategy. I realize blogging is all about the writer, but still think that civility is the way to reach and change people. I’m not sure that “being nice” will draw droves to your blog, but name-calling may cause this reader to not come back. We’ll see…
Obama for President
Caribou Barbie for woman of the year (remember, Saddam was man of the year a while back, God rest his rotten soul)
John McCain for retired Arizona sand rancher
Thank you for your honesty. I too is a mother of 4 children and nothing to me is more important than being there for my children. I am not against women fulfilling their heart’s desire, but you just have to ask yourself at what price. Some women don’t like the job of a mom and some men don’t like the job of being a man. So I guess if she and her husband is ok with that, then she can whatever she wants. The only problem I have is, whatever job she choose, do it with integrity.