I read lots of mommy blogs and so far, I haven't seen any posts about Sarah Palin. Its kinda like the white elephant in the room - don't you think? There is sooooo much to say about her - be it good or bad and it all hits the core with us mommies.
So - I'm going to make that jump and blog about her! But, please know that the purpose of my post is not to say whether I'm Democrat or Republican or who I am voting for (I get to argue about that enough in my own home, I don't want to do that here!) - I just want to chat a little bit about Sarah.
First off, I must say she is a hottie! How many Presidents or Vice-Presidents can say they have been in Vogue? And she is a mom of 5 kids and a soon-to-be grandma and still hot enough to be in Vogue - you go girl!
So - what do I want to chat about? I don't want to chat about her politics, I just simply want to see what the other mommies think about the age old question - can a Mommy really have a successful high powered career and be an attentive, present and patient mommy?
Could I? Absolutely not. I can barely figure out how to work part-time, maintain and build my website and blogs, keep my house spotless and organized and keep up on the laundry. I'm not going to even mention figuring out how to prepare healthy home cooked meals for my family. I remember always growing up having dinner as a family together with Salad, Main Dish, Vegetables and Carbs on the table - not take out, but cooked. All I can say is thank god for Costo, Trader Joes and frozen meals - oh yeah, thank god for my hubby and the BBQ too! And I only have 1 child. And guess what? I ran out of milk yesterday morning, just in time to give Allie a bowl of cereal. Well - didn't run out, but as I opened the milk, it smelled yucky (even though the date was 9/2) and so I still felt inept that I couldn't seem to have a simple thing like milk in the house available for her. Oh yeah - I also didn't have her favorite Hannah Montana shirt for her to wear to school today (all 10000000000 of her other Hannah shirts were clean, but her favorite one was not) - again, had I been more on top of the household "stuff", Allie would have had fresh milk for her cereal and her clean Hannah shirt. Do I say the household stuff can come later because Allie wants to do a craft or game? Yes. Or sometimes I say later to everything because I am working on my website. Or sometimes everyone is on their last pair of something, so the laundry has to be done. Bottom line is that I truly feel like I give 100% to Allie most of the time and everything else slips a little bit. And when I do give something else 100%, do I honestly feel as though I am not giving Allie 100%.
So, because I can't always seem to get it together in all areas at all times, I often tend to give Allie the 100% to the expense/detriment of the other things (or there are those nights that after Allie goes to bed, I'm up until the wee hours of the morning [check out the times on some of my blog posts if you don't believe me!] doing the things that I "put aside" earlier in the day). But guess what - then my health doesn't get 100% because how many nights can an almost 40-year old Mom really exist on 4 or 5 hours of sleep a night?
But, I digress -how in the world can Sarah do it all? How can see she be the best mother, wife and vice-president she can be with 5 kids AND a grandchild on the way. And while that is nice that her daughter is getting married, the bottom line is two young children who are going to have a baby will need the help of their own parents to help them be parents themselves.
This has nothing to do with whether I like her or not or whether I support her politics or not. This simply just has to do with the fact that I find it hard to believe that she is going to be able to give 100% to everything she has in her life and if she can't give 100%, which part is going to suffer? I can tell you, if it was me, the stuff that wasn't my kids would suffer and perhaps that is one of 90000000 reasons why I won't be a good vice-presidential candidate. . .and if she feels the same way (which as a fellow mommy is how I would want her to feel), then how can she be a qualified vice-president?
If she says her role as vice-president would never suffer as a result of her mommy role (which I would want her to say as a citizen living in the US)? Than, I have to tell you, I feel a bit sad for her kids. . .and how does that fit in with the Republican stance of family values?
Or maybe I'm just inept and she can do it all - and if so, more power to her and that is what separates her. . .but I don't mind telling you, I am a bit skeptical.
And this is not about me not thinking that a woman can't have it all - I think she can have whatever she wants and whatever she sets her mind to - but tell me truthfully, do you think there is a point where there is too much and something or somethings don't get 100%? I do.
I certainly don't have all the answers, but these are just the questions that have been on my mind for the past few days. Tell me what your thoughts are - I'd love to know!
13 comments:
Ohhhhhhhh (deep breath). There has been SO much that has been said about Sarah Palin in my house these past few days, some of which you've posted about here.
While I do believe women can do whatever they put their mind to, I feel like she (and perhaps the Republican party) is a bit delusional. Strictly speaking as a mother, I think she's biting off more than she can chew. VP, very small special needs baby, pregnant teenage daughter who's going to need her more now than ever, soon-to-be grandchild on the way . . .
There's got to be a point where you have to concede that you just can't do it all.
I won't even go into whether or not I think she's qualified.
You raise a lot of good questions and like the previous commenter said a lot of them have been discussed in my house recently too. I would like to think that she can do it all or that her husband can pick up the slack but 5 kids? One of them a 10 month old baby with down syndrome? AND a teenage daughter who is pregnant? I agree that her kids are going to need her now more than ever and with her lack of experience it just doesn't seem like a very good decision on McCain's part. Were the pickings really that slim? On the hottness note I think she is smoking hot! She kind of reminds me of Tina Fay or Megan Mullaley from will and grace. Does anyone else see the resemblance?
@modernmommy - OMIGOSH - I soooooo see the Tina Fey resemblance, since you mentioned it!!
If the potential candidate was the male in the family, no one would be questioning if he could handle the job. Ms. Palin and her husband have switched roles. He is a full time "Mister Mom" and it is insulting to think she has to be the parent that remains home. They have chosen not to have a nanny raise their children but simply to have dad home full time.
@anonymous - Please know that I don't think any parent needs to remain in the home - its each family's choice how they handle their family. Some of my friends would be miserable at home, so they work part or 3/4 quarter time and they are probably better moms for that. My only comment was that when you are talking about a Vice-Presidential Candidate, the next one in-line if anything happens to McCain, I think you are speaking about a whole different ballgame. But, with that said, I absolutely agree with you, that if Dad is at home it brings on a whole different tone to the conversation. But, it is my understanding that Mr. Palin works for British Petroleum at this point - if he plans on being a stay-at-home Dad if they win, then I would absolutely probably not have even bothered to blog about this. And please know, for those of you who think Sarah Palin is or is not an amazing politician - I'm not even commenting on that, I was only commenting on how can she really do it all 100%. . .
Palin is married to a commercial fisherman. Todd Palin worked for BP, formerly British Petroleum, at a Prudhoe Bay processing facility, but resigned when his wife became governor.
@anonymous - Thank you for your comments. The most current information I can find on Palin is that he was working at BP, but stopped working in December 2007 to avoid any conflicts of interest because his company was negotiating w/ Sarah Palin. Apparently 7 months later he went back to work in order to help his family financially. And in addition to working at BP, some websites are saying that he has his own commercial fishing company.
I believe I saw that online on the New York Times from August 29, 2008.
But, as I said before, if he is not going to work, or only work part-time, than I really would revisit my initial post. But, the information I see tends to say that while he works part-time, he also has his own business. But perhaps he is the Mr. Mom and if so, then that is wonderful because it leaves Sarah Palin the opportunity to pursue her dreams and not worry about being there 100% for her kids as her husband is fortunately able to do that.
Again, my post was not whether or not I liked or disliked the Palins. It was my understanding that he worked and ran his own company and I didn't quite know with him busy tending to his committments and Sarah helping to run the country how she was going to be able to do it all.
Amen, Sister!! We are on the same page on this one on every word you wrote. I have written several comments on azcentral expressing similar views and this morning someone told me I'm disgusting and Self Serving in my comments. Guess I'm not as eloquent in my writing!!
If I had a four month old child with Downs Syndrome, I personally would not even consider running for VP. Maybe in four years but not right now. I can see how she got caught up in the idea of running for VP, but I don't think she's thought this through. And last night they were passing that baby around like he was a football. I read children with DS are 60 times more likely to get sick as well. She should have gotten a babysitter last night. Having that child there was not in the best interests of the child, but only in the political interests of Sarah.
I do believe women can have it all, but at the right time. And I don't think now is the right time for her and her family. If Biden had a four month old at home I would question his campaign as well.
This is such a tough subject. After reading your post I thought about how no one made these same arguments about Hillary, but then her only daughter is in college (or already graduated - I cannot remember as time goes too quickly and I don't keep up with whos-who).
If her husband does in fact play Mr. Mom when/if she is elected than more power to them as a family and I hope she doesn't regret being a bigger player in her family. If he isn't Mr. Mom and continues to work, well then now you have a bunch of kids who are going to be flounder for a few years.
It's an interesting debate and one that I think is bringing about the topic of women in high-power careers, which is a good thing.
As for me, I wouldn't want to forgo 4 years of directing my attention off of my kids. No job or opportunity is worth that to me.
If she were a man we wouldn't be having this conversations. We women have come so far and yet are still expected to be the only member of the family to raise the children. It's mostly the women who are complaining too. It is sad indeed. What wrong with hubby picking up some extra parental responsibilities? I say she rocks and I'm thrilled she is in the running. :)
As a mom, I can't relate to Sarah Palin. Her priority is having children, my priority is raising them.
Shame on all of you "mommys". Why are women the biggest critics of other women? Put her political views aside and be proud of a woman who has made history. We are supposed to be a sisterhood. Perhaps those who can spend hours and hours a day blogging and analyzing each and every move of their chilren are trying to justify their own choices.
Interesting comments, especially from anonymous. As a full time working mom of 2 healthy kids, I will say, it's a lot of juggling ignited knives at all times for me. I cannot begin to fathom all that Sarah Palin has on her plate, HOWEVER, every mother is different, every family is different, some women can do it all. And do it very well. I admire her drive, determination and ability to all that she is setting out to do.
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