Unless you live under a rock you are aware of Bristol Palin's pregnancy. Unfortunately, these situations occur. I used it as a "teaching" moment with my 13 year old daughter. She and I are very close, we talk about everything (to the point that some of her friends make fun of how she tells me everything.) I know that this may not always be the case, but our relationship is based on trust, honesty and non-judgement. She is a really great kid.
So....I asked her if she was aware of the Bristol Palin story. We spent the entire day at the pool (sigh....last day of summer) so I didn't know if she knew about the story. My daughter is very informed (she wanted Hillary but she digs Obama, too.) She had, in fact, heard about the story. She is bummed for Bristol and knows that the girl's life has changed forever. We discussed how sex at such an early age can lead to really, really serious consequences. We promised each other that if she ever thought she would have sex with a boy or if she already had that all she had to do was ask me for birth control, etc. and I would take her to see her doctor and get her on birth control. Of course, I stressed that high schoolers don't need to have sex as I think they are too young, etc. It was a great moment, I feel so blessed that these conversations are relatively easy to have with her.
That is how I feel I need to behave as a mother. Teach my daughter how to make her own decisions and make her aware of the consequences of poor decisions.
The bottom line for me is that I am absolutely mortified that Sarah Palin would accept the VP slot knowing that her young daughter was pregnant. Its hard enough to have a child at that age (17) but now the WHOLE FREAKIN" UNIVERSE knows about it. It literally makes me sick to my stomach that the Palin's decided on this course of action. I think it is wonderful that they are supporting Bristol but I also think they made just about the most selfish decision ever. Knowing that their teenaged daughter was pregnant yet still inviting the entire world into their lives and putting their whole family under a microscope. Literally sick to my stomach.
This, my fellow Kossacks, is the real issue surrounding Sarah Palin's judgement. A decision like this speaks volumes about her values, in my opinion. She is like many a parent who finds that their teenager is about to have a baby, I don't really judge her on that. Hey, it happens. But, to make such a selfish decision, knowing that their daughter would bare the brunt of the chattering classes and have to hear about her pregnancy ad nauseum in the media for, potentially, the next several YEARS and still decide to accept the VP slot is unforgiveable, in my mind. As a parent, you put your kids first. Always.