The 2008 Presidential race is heating up and it’s interesting to note that 2 of the candidates are working parents of young children.
If you’re in the United States, you would have to have been under a rock not to know that Republican John McCain selected Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska, as his running mate on Friday.
Palin is also the mother of 5 children ranging in age from 19 years to 5 months and one of the issues debated around the water cooler in offices (both physical and virtual) across America is, “Should she be spending this much time away from her kids to run for Vice President? Can she really do both?”
In the debate over working mothers, people (usually in order to appear open minded, tolerant or whatever) are fond of saying, “A woman should do whatever’s best for her family”, yet from what I’ve read, Sarah Palin doesn’t seem to be afforded that permission.
Those people with an opinion have been shrill in their cries of, “How can she do this to her children? She should be home!”
While it does seem like she’s going to be awfully busy the next few months, I have no idea what running for vice-president entails, I’ve never done it, I have no idea what she’s facing or what her family arrangements are. However, I think it’s a safe bet that she and her husband discussed the matter before she accepted the offer.
I’m neither a fan nor a detractor of hers, it’s simply not my business what she does or how she does it. It’s curious though, that this topic really hasn’t come up about Barack Obama, father of two young girls.
What say you?
I am a 50 year old woman. In my younger days I use to think that we could and should do it all. I still believe this today. But what has changed is now knowing that if we decide to do it all while we have young babies and children, there are consequences. Ultimately, our children miss out on having their Mom COMPLETELY there for them.
As women, we bear the gift and the burden of bringing lives into this world. I feel if we choose to utilize this gift, then we need to take FULL responsibility for it and be there for our children. Full-time.
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