“They have teenagers who are perfectly capable of taking care of a baby, if they have been raised right. And know what? I’m betting they were and can do it.”
Don, with all due respect, that’s simply untrue. Those teenagers haven’t a clue what to do with a new special needs baby. I know, my 25 year old son with Down Syndrome is sitting in the next room watching Big Bird tapes. Gov. Palin has no business running for VP under these circumstances.
In an interview in Dayton Palin said her husband would take leave to care for the children. They also have many relatives she said, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. They are a real family it seems.
Does she have a husband? Oh, yes, I think she does. In fact, I believe they even stated he would be the main caretaker while she was at work.
Are you saying a man is unable to care for his own children?
Parents with special needs children do other things than attend the child just as you are with your son happily doing something nearby. Palin’s staff in Alaska noted she has the baby nearby. Many working mothers take their children even when they travel accompanied by another person to help. Palin’s child will be exposed to wonderful and exciting experiences and will no doubt blossom to a greater degree because of that.
Perhaps I spoke from ignorance (has been known to happen...)
What is there in caring for a D. S. baby that a responsible teen could not handle? I’m know that Down babies often have medical issued, such as heart defects. But, beyond that, what are the challenges?
And when her 25 year old son is watching TV she will have been a two term past president for years.
“I know, my 25 year old son with Down Syndrome is sitting in the next room watching Big Bird tapes”
Then respectfully sir or ma’am, get off the computer and go parent him. It is a 24/7 job, right?
I am raising a mentally handicapped child, do not have two teenage sisters, do not have vital available grandparents at hand, and do not have hired staff staff to shop cook clean launder and drive as the governor has and VP will.
I do have a fulltime working spouse
I call BS on your contention that only Sarah Palin can handle and should handle all the chores involved or else she is selfish and that the entire family did not educate and prepare itself to support and raise Trig in the 4 months before his birth.
What a load. I know many parents of special needs kids and your posts do not ring true. I suspect you have wandered off the DU reservation
or have other issues. There is help out there for you and your son from your county or state. At 25 there should be a program where he can live in a group setting, develop whatever indepedence and social skills experts can help him attain, and spend less time watching cartoons.
“Those teenagers haven’t a clue what to do with a new special needs baby. I know, my 25 year old son with Down Syndrome is sitting in the next room watching Big Bird tapes. Gov. Palin has no business running for VP under these circumstances.”
I most vigorously disagree with you. I have good friends who have had DS children, and their older kids all pitched in and helped with the raising of those children. Every one of those families is a close knit union of love and laughter, and are models for American families in general.
AN ex-fiance took skilled and devoted care of a profoundly handicapped brother along with both parents.
In any case, one can be sure that the Palin family is NOT having the goobers from any gooberment agency take care of any of their children.
With all due respect, perhaps Sarah Palin is better prepared and better able to perform than you give credit.
Indeed, Down Syndrome individuals are not helpless nor in need of 24/7 attention.
You do a disservice to both DS people and their parents and caregivers with such tripe.
So does that mean that her husband should not be working, and both of them should just stay home on welfare to take care of the baby full time?
I also have a special needs child and know how much effort and how much joy they can be. I also know that if a couple works together as a team it makes it better for all involved. So are you suggesting that only the mother can provide for a child with special needs? If so you are a very sexist person. Someone has to be the breadwinner, and if she is elected VP, I am sure her husband will take care of their young son just fine when she is working. I wouldn't be that surprised to see a playpen in the West Wing!