Sarah Palin's Paradox for Working Moms

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  1

  yhird

  09/09/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Sarah Palin's Paradox for Working Moms

  The quote "raising children is a family affair", it absolutely right. Children need a mother, nuturing soft gentle, someone who will take the care to apply a bandaid in need... however children, in as much as a mother, need a father. Both roles are undeniable and cannot be substatuted, nor can they be watered down by half asked parenting by those mothers and fathers that work every moment or are somehow otherwise neglecting.
  
  
  However, in this case we see a woman dedicated to her country, to changing the status quo and its obvious she wants to impact society with the passion in her heart. My hope is that she has a game plan for the family. It is necessary to ensure the family knows this is not a life commitment. In most is it 8 years of service to the country. This term(s) will spring board every child in that family into great things personnally and professionally.
  
  I am convinced that children need both parents in the home, both roles are important but if this family has laid a solid foundation, both know the consequences and the entire family knows this is just a season in the family life, it is honorable to sacrfice for the sake of the country. The family will be fine because the foundation has been laid and the whole family is a part of the passion.

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  2

  pmalvarez

  09/09/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Sarah Palin's Paradox for Working Moms

  I can most certainly relate to the conflict we all feel but isn't this the equality of choice and respect that women have been requesting? Sarah has a very supportive husband and they both have adapted the traditional father and mother roles to fit their relationship and goals and meet their family's needs. The question I find more intriguing than asking Obama is why wasn't this an issue for the political establishment when Biden without a spouse to balance out the family demands and 2 boys in the hospital after the tragic loss of their mother and sister was encouraged to assume his position as a newly elected politician. Wasn't there a greater gap to fill in that home? He has been revered for simply taking the train home every night but who raised his children while he served his country and pursued his desire to contribute?

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  3

  diamond25girl

  09/09/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Sarah Palin's Paradox for Working Moms

  I agree that it is proposterous that we are talking about the abilities and professional aspirations of women. Some women have made the conscious decision to stay at home with their children, which I believe is one of the toughest job out there. Having been a stay at home Mom when my children were little is something that I am very glad I did. I am now a very successful professional. However, the decision to stay home was a family decision, not one that my neighbor, the community, or some sexist person or group made on my and my family's behalf. I personally could not have balanced a career and my family, but many people have made the choice to and are wonderful at it. As far as Sarah Palin and the comment that ???While (Palin???s) desire to make a difference is admirable, her home life seems to need more of her time and attention than the Republican party needs.??? is absurd! There are plenty of working mothers out there with the same circumstances, (or does this only happen to those in the public eye) some much worse - but they work and live their lives. To those that pass judgement on what another person should do I say MYOB. To Sarah I say "You Go!" With the love and support of their family, the Palins will be just fine and this country may just turn out to be a better place.

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  tltodd

  09/09/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Sarah Palin's Paradox for Working Moms

  I come from a long line of stay-at-home moms. Somehow, I always thought I too would follow their lead. The difference was that I would be a stay-at-home mom...with a college degree. It didn't work out that way and I'm glad it didn't. It didn't take long to figure out that two incomes are not only better than one...they are necessary. Even If I were to take the "necessary" part out, I couldn't deny the enormous positive impact being a working mom has had on my family of three girls. Here's what THEY tell me they learned from living in a working family:
  1. Concept of harmonious teamwork to get things done
  2. The value of a college education and the ability to work at a job you like
  3. Sacrifice to do a job well
  4. How to pick a mate who respects you as an equal contributor (they are much less likely to hook-up with a dead-beat)
  5. How to prioritize and balance work and family
  6. The opportunity and family fun a dual income affords--cool vacations and nice clothes.
  
  On our 25th wedding anniversary, the girls gave us a card that said, "thanks for staying together and showing us how to live and love at home, while being very successful in business. We now know how to have it all." The note ended with, " Oh, we also really appreciate all the neat stuff you are able to buy us!"

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  5

  writersjoy

  09/09/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Sarah Palin's Paradox for Working Moms

  In my opinion, a woman can do what she sets her mind to do - positive and negative. Women are left more than ever, single-moms who have no choice but to care for a family, improve themselves and juggle careers at sub-standard wages. Not to mention exorbitant child care expenses.
  
  The issue is not the working mom paradox, but the CREDIBLE working-mom paradox. Is Palin fit to represent this country or is she simply being used as a Republican pawn because she is female?
  
  Thanks Sean for posing this question.

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  6

  aemet

  09/09/08 | Report as spam

  What does Palen's religion or her daughters sex life have to do with it?

  I never thought I would see the mighty N.O.W.
  warriors advocate for womens' rights by making
  such contradictory dogmatic statements
  directing Palen to "get back in her home and
  take care of her family. Why didn't these
  warriors and their media cohorts tell Nancy
  Pelosi, Speaker of the House, and mother of
  five to get back in her house.
  
  Double standards? Frankly, I am ashamed of our
  democrats too. Uing Palin's pregnant daughter
  and Downs Syndrome son as fodder for their war
  to win is in the least unconscionable!
  
  The attempt of those unconscionable attacks
  will affect these people the rest of their
  lives. The 17 year old girl, now mother and the
  boy she loved now father of the unborn person
  are burdened with shame by the people who said
  a child should be wanted... she wants hers. BUT
  the baby she loves will eventually have to deal
  with the shame with which it already deals with
  from within her mothers womb.
  
  It is only natural to have sex at 17 years old.
  I'd like to ask for some honest answers from
  those who bring it up and those who help heap
  shame on pure innocence. Where was your mom on
  the first date you had sex? Were you a virgin
  when you got married? What did your religion
  have to say about your behavior, if you have
  one?
  
  Frankly, the brazen brutality of the democrats
  and democrat commentators and democrat
  supporting media (even Larry King) turned on
  this woman... I am voting Republican this time.
  
  If we can survive the last four years we will
  improve with her.

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  rherman

  09/09/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Sarah Palin's Paradox for Working Moms

  Sarah Palin has an incredible support system for her children.
  I would like to ask the question -Why the double standard? Is it because she is a strong woman who is a threat to Obama & Biden?
  I was a full time working mom who went to college at night, with the support of my family. I am now a grandmother, working full time as an officer of a corporation, who is very proud of my children and all out our accomplishments. If someone had tried to hold me to the same impossible standards that are being applied to Palin by the Democrats, my response would have been "If you can't offer help and support- get out of the way! You don't speak for me and other working moms who have been in her shoes and have been successful despite the "small thinkers" who criticized us". I wish there were more American women like Palin.

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  mirth27

  09/09/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Sarah Palin's Paradox for Working Moms

  To the people of the USA, consider: Are we living in the 21st century or are we back in the 16th century? Is not parenting an equal dual responsibility of both parents rather than just the province of the 'mother'? Where is the father's responsibility for his children? Why has HIS responsibility for the welfare of his children not been aired? What IS the difference between Obama and Palin, both are parents, both have equal responsibility for their respective children, don't they? Why is one parent put up for critism and the other revered for following their dreams?
  
  For the first time in my life, I have been watching the American Presidential Election from my home 'Down Under' in Australia. As a Brit and naturalised Australian, my interest (along with a large proportion of the World)has been peeked by the cultural firsts that apply with this particular election run ... the possibility of a woman in the 2nd highest office in the country or the first non-caucasian president.
  
  I am a mature female who had been a working Mum with all the challenges, highs and lows, that went with the life I chose. My husband and I BOTH took equal responsibility for our children right across the board, including childcare, housekeeping, schooling, parent/teacher days, school sports (we attended EVERY sports day), whilst also climbing our respective career ladders to independently forming and managing companies, large and small. You CAN do it all with careful planning together with the love and support to each other to face each challenge with fairness, communication and commitment to yourselves AND your children. Our children had the best of both worlds, parents who were present with them plus happy with their lives following their chosen careers including each travelling to foreign destinations from time to time on assignment.
  
  Give Palin AND Obama a go for who they are and what each can do for the USA? Isn't that the question Americans need to ask themselves ... 'WHICH PARTY CAN GIVE ME THE BEST USA I CAN HAVE NOW?'

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  9

  Susan Kuhn

  09/10/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Sarah Palin's Paradox for Working Moms

  The answer seems simple: Her husband will step up and take over the dominant role in child rearing. Moreover, at the VP mansion the family will have staff to help.
  
  I watched her pregnant 17-year-old beam with pride when her mother walked up to the podium. What a wonderful opportunity for this family. Who would want to deny their children the many blessings that the campaign and actually winning and serving will bring?
  
  You go girl! Families are nothing if not adaptable.