Quote:
|
Originally Posted by stephjoel99
No one is questioning Barack Obama - or Michelle Obama for that matter, a working woman - about their parenting choices.
|
(just picking the first one I saw addressing this comparison, not intentionally quoting anyone in particular)
There is a huge difference between parenting your typical 7 & 9 year olds and parenting a 4 month old SN child.
Assuming Michelle Obama chose to forgo her current roles and handle "only" FL roles or even if she also worked, she'd in theory have 6-7 hours of the school day. Unless they're homeschooling already the parenting choices here are pretty straightforward and typical--work during the school day and a bit past, then family time in the evening. They'd have a lot less time as a family than a typical family with elementary to MS aged kids, but the girls are old enough to understand and to have busy lives (school) of their own. I think that's why it's not brought up as much. It's not the same situation.
As for Palin, most people are not concerned about her 19, 17, 13 or even her 7 year old (not sure on ages, going from birth years) or her ability to be their mother and do her job; with the exception of the over-focus on the pregnancy which will resolve itself soon and blow over. It's the SN 4 mo that causes concerns about the timing here, I believe.
Based on Palin's husband's jobs as I've seen them listed (oil field operator and owns a fishing biz), I doubt he will be working them directly in DC and will likely act as primary caregiver to Trig and the other kids. If he's up for being a semi-single parent and the challenges of their SN child's care, then I don't see that as a voting point one way or the other.
I am the primary (only) wage earner in our home and DH is the primary caregiver. It works for us. I may only get to join them for dinner 3-4 nights of the week or sneak in at bedtime for a kiss sometimes, but DH and I are both very comfortable with our roles and it works for us. VP is far more stressful and time consuming with more time away, I'd imagine, but that's their choice. But I DO want to point out a difference in questioning how their family may handle this process while parenting a baby with SN and the the media's lack of focus on the two relatively older Obama children. To me, that question is not about him versus her but the issue of special needs--either way I find it irrelevant in my voting.