The Common Sense Mom: Recent Comments

Comment on McPalin

Carl Vehse — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 22:49:35 GMT

"it occured to me that she does not have time to breast feed her son."

Think again! Here's an excerpt from a Chicago Sun-Times column, 'Incredibly">http://www.suntimes.com/news/sneed/1146658,CST-NWS-sneed05.article">'Incredibly supportive team':

"Shortly after breast-feeding the baby, Trig, and putting their youngest daughter, Piper, to bed after Sarah Palin's speech at the RNC on Wednesday night, the Palins came down to the hotel lobby and thanked everyone on the staff for being so helpful. She signed autographs and posed for pictures. She was wearing a black cocktail dress and looked beautiful, a source said."

You can also read the article, "A">http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/a-tough-joan-of-arc-who-enjoys-sipping-on-a-latte-1470991.html">"A tough 'Joan of Arc' who enjoys sipping on a latte".

Even if handling the multiple jobs of wife, mother of a new-born, governor, and GOP VP nominee is more than 99.99999 percent of women could successfully handle, that still leaves a reasonable number of women who could, and Sarah Palin seems to be one of them. There's always someone at the high end of any Gaussian distribution.

Comment on McPalin

Liz — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 11:31:09 GMT

That's absolutely amazing! And good for her! Guess I should have researched before I wrote. Foiled again!!

Comment on McPalin

IndianaJane — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:18:58 GMT

I heard someone on Issues, Etc. describe her as "post-feminist." I think that's what a lot of women our age are. (Palin is a few months older than I.) We were raised to believe we could--and should--have it all. And many of us also feel free to leave it behind and stay home with our kids. :)
I used to think I was a feminist, because I believed that women could do anything men could do, except be fathers and pastors. :) (I guess I also don't like them being soldiers.) I'm guessing that Palin's feminism is more akin to that sense of freedom that we were raised with than the radical ugliness.
Post-feminists can be a career woman, but still embrace being a woman, being a wife and mother. (Feminists tend to hate the idea of post-feminist.)

Comment on McPalin

Gary Comer — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:49:31 GMT

She does refer to herself as a feminist (I cringe a bit when I here that). So I guess I ask, "What does it mean to be a feminist?"

IMHO a feminist is typically a radical left wing man hater, usually pro-death and complains about glass ceilings and equal pay. They also wear pants suits. Does that sound like Hill?

I guess I would say Sarah is a new kind of feminist, the good kind.

Comment on McPalin

The Common Sense Mom — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:17:00 GMT

Liz,

I think she still breastfeeds. Pretty amazing, huh?

Comment on McPalin

The Common Sense Mom — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:15:44 GMT

My sister and I are polar opposites. She has two children and would rather shrivel up and die than to stay at home. She needs that outside motivation. I, on the other hand, look at her life and say, "Thanks, but no thanks." I just don't have any desire to have to work outside of the home all day.

Palin seems to have that "high energy" motivation outside of the home. She does refer to herself as a feminist (I cringe a bit when I here that). So I guess I ask, "What does it mean to be a feminist?"

Thanks for your insight, Jane.

Comment on McPalin

IndianaJane — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:28:37 GMT

I did not mean at all to imply that stay-at-home moms are low energy! Having been one myself for the last 13 years--and having worked full-time as a mom for nine years before that--I know exactly the kind of energy it takes. :) I know sahms who are high and low energy just as I have employed friends who are high and low energy. I'm talking about the difference between those who thrive on busyness and those who like more downtime. Some of it may even be an introvert/extrovert thing more than energy. I am more effective in all areas of my life when I have a full calendar; while I have friends who think my life looks awful and exhausting.

What I am concerned about is the tendency we women have to project our own abilities, preferences, and energy levels on others. I have heard more than one woman say, "I know *I* couldn't do it." And that may be true. But I know *I* could, and I'm hoping Palin can, too.

Comment on McPalin

The Common Sense Mom — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:05:16 GMT

Good points everyone! I always enjoy hearing other's thought process. I have no doubts that McCain, from a strictly political standpoint, nailed it home with Palin. I like her, even more than I like McCain...I just have my reservations about it all.

IndianaJane...I caution you to not refer to stay-at-homers as those with "low energy". All of our energy goes into picking up the couch pillows, the blocks, wiping dirty noses, running kids to and from school and sports activites, and still having a smile on our faces when our husbands come home at the end of the day. I'd say that requires high energy, just a different kind than what you are referencing.

I was not trying to imply on this post that you can't be a good mother if you work outside of the home...I said that it can be stressful. I've been there and done it (working outside of the home with children) and I feel very fortunate and blessed to be able to not have to do that anymore. I know there are many families where this is not an option. I think it can be very stressful and not for me.

Comment on McPalin

IndianaJane — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:50:00 GMT

A couple of thoughts:
I like Sarah Palin. I think it was a smart choice. Neither McCain nor Palin would be my pick (I was a Thompson fan), but she has added something to the ticket and from a politically pragmatic standpoint, I'm glad he picked her.

Will her family suffer? Maybe, but maybe not. There are a couple of things that strike me about the situation that I haven't seen mentioned much. First is that although VP is an important job, it does have an element of flexibility that the normal 9-5 doesn't. She has already been known to have her children at work with her, and reportedly has been--and possibly still is--nursing Trig.
If she isn't elected VP, she is still governor of Alaska, arguably a bigger job than going to state funerals and breaking ties in the senate. :)
She obviously has a high capacity for activity. Some of us do. Some don't. We aren't all the same. I think that it's difficult for women who are lower energy, or homebodies to understand those of us who aren't. In spite of what is seen by many as the ideal, my family suffers if I don't have enough going on outside of the house! We may not keep a perfect house or knit or sew, but we can still be good mothers.

Comment on Pumped for Palin?

Erich Heidenreich, DDS — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:57:02 GMT

Excellent women's intuition!

I'm so glad to hear a Lutheran woman comment on these concerns. Prior to reading yours, I was beginning to think my">http://lutheransandcontraception.blogspot.com/2008/09/palin-procreation-politics-and.html">my position could indicate that I'm really a male chauvinist pig.

Thank you!