I envy my daughter! She's 19, smart, talented, in college learning lots of good things - on top of what we already taught her- things that will carry her into the future. On top of that foundation, she has such great women role models that broaden her horizons. Many of today's women professionals have chosen to work and raise a family simultaneously. For example, there's a hockey mom we've known for years who, with her husband, have raised the happiest, kindest, most well-adjusted kids I've ever known (not problem-free, but well-grounded). They're active in church and are completely home-focused. Both the parents are active lawyers and have always worked full-time. With lots of patience, creativity and commitment, they successfully parented and worked. Of course, we know many well-functioning families with one parent at home full-time.  Today, I'm also happy that my daughter is learning Govenor Sarah Palin's story. She's an excellent role model for normal family relationships, strained a bit by such public scrutiny: mother of five, including a pregnant teenager and a nursing baby who will have special needs his entire life. Sounds a lot like people I know! If she feels called to help lead our country, and has a proven track record of the accoplishments, energy and commitment it takes to do that, then I'm willing to consider her.

When I was in my daughter's place in time, I was told there were two choices: you are either at home NOT working for pay or you choose the business world. If you want to attempt a halfway choice, you can become a teacher. So, I became a teacher. I even pursued my master's degree in education, falling just 9 credits short due to pregnancy. I finally left in 1996 because my mind and heart were needed at home. I've been working in business every since and have found that it is very possible to raise and nurture a family very well and still be employed. I only wish I had learned that much earlier in my life.  I love teaching, but my heart was always somewhere else.  Now nearing 50, I'm rethinking my next 50 years.  Govenor Palin inspires me, too.

I'd like to mention a really great article, In Wasilla, Pregnancy Was No Secret , by Time Magazine writer, Nathan Thornburgh. Here's an excerpt:

“So his name is Levi. That’s about the only thing that I didn’t know about Bristol Palin’s pregnancy. The rest of the details I picked up almost without trying, while talking about other things with townsfolk — some who know the governor and her family well, some who don’t. It was, more or less, an open secret. And everyone was saying the same thing: the governor’s 17-year-old daughter is pregnant, the father is her boyfriend, and it’s really nobody’s business beyond that…

Maybe that means Palin is a little too much Northern Exposure for America….People in Wasilla are Alaskan tough, so not only does a thing like teen pregnancy not seem like anyone’s damn business, but it’s also not seen as the calamity so many people in the lower 48 might think it is. This is dangerous country — it’s not just the roughneck jobs on cable reality shows. It’s real life here.”