I feel the need to comment on it and the thread was locked, but I agree with what she is trying to say. I think she needed to explain it more. For once I didn't understand the shock.

I have an autistic child and used to babysit a down's infant, so I understand what a parent goes thru and I can not imagine accepting the VP nomination at this time in her life. I'm a democrat, so her on the ticket is neither here nor there for me. I just think that this position requires her to choose between her potential job and her child. In an ideal world, she would not have to choose, but..... Having a special needs child can be an emotional roller coaster and the constant additional care and reassurance they need is tremendous. Yes, she may have a stay at home husband, BUT there are 4 kids. I barely made it through with my sanity and my husband was very hands on. Without knowing her personally, I think it is very selfish of her. Do you guys honestly think she can give her child and the job everything that both need?

And before I get flamed, I am very pro working outside the home and did it myself for years taking jobs where I could work opposite shifts than my husband.

And for moms of special needs kids, could you do this? I couldn't as I find myself very protective of my dd and can't imagine not being there for her on a regular basis and able to go to her if needed.

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There is a way to say what you just said.

It was not said in that way in the other thread.

It was said with a very, very ugly tone and the implication was that she was parading her baby around on her hip to garner attention. The poster also threw out that she, too, has a disabled child so I guess she thought that meant she got a pass to pass judgment on the way someone else chose to parent their disabled child.

Would I do what Palin is doing? No, and the issues my children have are a far cry from what her son faces.

Then again, I don't have the drive to accomplish what she has in her life thus far.

I may be a weirdo, but I think dads are every bit as important in the lives of children as moms. The Kennedy children were young and had a father who was very busy with his job. Same with Carter. Clinton had a daughter at home.

If we're truly going to be 'equal opportunity' types, we need to be every bit as indignant that Obama would consider such a demanding job while his daughters are so young. The biggest predictor of how a girl will turn out is said to be the relationship she has with her father.

Would I do what she's doing? No. Would I recommend it? No. Do I know how the dynamics work in their household to say for sure they can't pull it off just fine? No again.

She has 4 kids, the oldest who is joining the military. I have a feeling they will make this work. I raised an ADHD kid. Talk about being busy!!! lol I wonder if you would feel this way if this was a man? Would that be ok if the wife was home with the child? Don't you think they may have some extra help to help with all the little stuff we "normal" moms have to do? Cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, etc... that would leave time for quality time. Large families tend to help each other and with the three older siblings at home that child will get lots of love. And she seems like one tough woman. I couldn't do it but I can't say she can't!

Do you remember that a lot of what HRC caught flack for was her billing hours at the Rose Law Firm in Little Rock? I realize the issue was related to the way things were double-billed, but that brought to light the many hours she had worked there, tirelessly.

All this whle Chelsea was a very young girl.

I wouldn't do it and it's not how I raised my kids. I've always been a WAHM in some form or fashion. I'm sure that if I'd been a mom when Clinton ran that I'd have felt critical of them for both having jobs that kept them away from their little girl so much. It's just not something I condone as being in the best interests of the child.

I'm curious as to how Palin intends to handle her responsibilities. I really am. But I do assume that their entire family would move to the house of the VP at the Naval Observatory and that Dad wouldn't stay back in Alaska. Given that his vocation isn't something he can *do* from DC, I assume he'd be in charge of the kids while they lived in DC.

I guess we'll see. They haven't really said yet.

They have 5 children not 4

I'd feel the same way if she was a he. I'm not saying it isn't doable, but will the baby and her job both get the best of her? And there are medical issues in down's babies that you do not see in children with adhd, autistm, etc. We can only speculate at this time. And I think the Clintons are a totally different situation. While I was a Hillary supporter, I think most nannies are quite a bit more maternal than Hillary

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Oops, my bad. Anyone know how old they all are? I could look it up, but it's Friday night and I'm being lazy!

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Track, 18; Bristol, 17; Willow, 13; Piper, 7; and Trig, 4 months.

sl -

There is no doubt how / what she wanted to convey in that awful statement, and in further statements that she did choose to make. I say choose, since she has chosen to not respond to several posters. Her point was made and I read it clearly.

There was a better way to raise some issues, as you have managed to do by balancing your thoughts, words, and style.

Maybe people see BO's wife ready to see their children through the White House years, and yet they can't see her husband doing the same. Talk about experience, she has more children and more years of raising them than BO and yet no uproar over his kids. One step forward, two steps backward comes to mind. Comparing apples to oranges comes to mind.

dl

Sarah Palin seems to balance work and her kids great. Actually she is still breatfeeding the baby. In the People's interview she was talking about that in the middle of the night she lays down the Blackberries and gets out the breast pump. How long will she continue that I do not know.

If anything at all women such not attack another woman just because she has a down syndrome child and trying to advance her career. She might think by helping the country by becoming VP she will make the world a better place for her children.
How come when the woman wants to advance her career people question how the children will be?


Would people say the same about mothers that are serving in the military and leave their children in the care of their husband or family? And gone on duty for months, year at a time. I do not think all those children are "perfect" (lack of a better word) health.

I think the military is no place for a mother especially ones with a special needs baby

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There are lots of families that make different sacrifices for their partners careers. Maybe, Mr. Palin will get a different job, work at home (a couple of examples).

There is no reason that SHE has to be the 1 to end her career because of happening to have a "downs syndrome" children or a child with any other handicap/illness.. Remember that child is also a product of the father.

In discussion about Palin's baby, and other babies/children with special needs:

Can we say "baby with Down Syndrome" rather than "down's baby" when discussing the VP nominee's child (or any child with Down Syndrome)?

It really creeps me out to hear it this way. It is more fair to call them "kids with..." since they are kids first and foremost. Seems like a minor point and a semantic issue to some, but it makes a big impact in how we perceive people with differences/disabilities.



Editing to add that after everything I've read so far, I feel that this woman is more than deserving of the chance to become VP of this country. It seems that she and her husband already has a plan for taking very good care of their children. Have there been any complaints lodged that she has been unable to govern Alaska effectively since her baby was born this year? Her family seems to be well-cared for, too. It seems their family plan works for them. So I have no problems with it.

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WOW!!!

Why not??? What if they have a non-military spouse in the home? Would you still feel this way?

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Author unknown to me, sorry.

TLJ Women United in Spirit!!!

Wow! Just Wow!

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I hope her judgment in politics is better than her judgment in naming children, LOL.

I do 110% especially considering Iraq deployment and such. Think about this. Mom or dad is deployed to Iraq. Mom or dad steps on landmine and dies. Now there is a single parent with a child that will never be able to live on his or her own (assuming baby has Down's Syndrome). Is this fair to the child? Mom or dad CHOSE to have a job in the military and risk their lives. I think it is selfish for a parent of a child such us the VP nominee's.

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Nope, I would have the same problem if HE was the one chosen to run as VP!

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So you think it is responsible of a parent of a child that will never live on his or her own, to put their life at risk and risk going to war? I think that's not fair to the child.

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The OP was speaking from experience. It's her perspective and she is far better qualified to know how much effort raising a handicapped child takes.

Personal experience? Why would that matter when the Righteous Witches go a-hunting?

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Yes We Did.

There ya go. Resort to the name-calling when there is no defense for what you said.

Our symbol isn't an elephant for nothing.

I'm sorry, but when did having a disability mean one could never live on their own??

I think that we as parents have to do what is not only best for our children, but what is best for ourselves. What's fair to the child is providing them with as much love, compassion and nurturing as possible. You give the child as much as you possible can in the hopes that one day they will learn to be as independent as they possible can!

I refuse to judge this woman simply because she is pursuing her want/desire. I do not feel that she is doing anything wrong, immoral or unethical in regards to her child.

And as I so often tell my children---life is often not fair. You do the best you can. You control what you can, fix what you can, you DO what you can, and the rest is in God's hands (or fate, or karms or whatever your belief is).

I disagree with you--that doesn't make either of "wrong", just means we have different opinions.

And truble--the same goes for you. I may not agree with you--but that doesn't mean either of us are wrong. I really think that you are taking comments far to personally. Which makes me wonder, because you are not normally like that.

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"In life it is so hard to know which bridges to cross and which bridges to burn....."

Excellent points.

Very typically, people with Down Syndrome these days live in group homes together, which are supervised as needed, and allow the residents of the home to function as independently as possible. Usually adults having Down Syndrome prefer to live among peers, and are able to be contributing members of the community.

Gone are the days when there was no choice for people with Down Syndrome (or their families) but to plan for living together for life. In fact, those days have been gone for a long time.

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell