Kind of a petty question re: Palin

[mamalone]

I'm reposting this in hopes that someone might have an answer to this question.. hope that's OK:)

Does anyone know what her current childcare arrangements are? and what they have been in the past, especially since she assumed the governorship? I've heard all kinds of things... that during the campaign for governor she impulsively blurted out that her dh would leave his job and stay home with the kids (which he did for a few months, then grew tired of it and returned to work), that the kids are "farmed out" to various neighbors and family members, that the teenage dd is actually caring for the baby... It seems incredible to me that she wouldn't have a housekeeper or nanny, or at the very least have a babysitter. Just wondering...

As an aside, am I the only one who feels incredibly uncomfortable and gossip-y about stooping to these petty and intrusive levels? Now, don't get me wrong... I certainly think that, in light of the situation and of her hypocrisy these questions are warranted and legit. It just feels weird to be questioning another woman on these things.. a bit.

[Captain Hilts]

1. The 17 year old daughter has taken a year off from school to take care of the kids.

That's what I've been told. She's not been in school for a year.

[CoffeeCat]

2. A pregnant 17-year old is taking care of...

3 kids and a baby with Downs Syndrome?

Man, the therapy that brood is going to need.

I feel sorry for all of those kids.

[mamalone]

7. To me this is very damning...

If it is true... sheeesh, no wonder the kid's having difficulties:(

[CoffeeCat]

10. That girl needs her mother!

She doesn't need her mother's children dumped on her--especially when she's pregnant.

If this is true, it's absurd and it's abusive.

Typical of famlies with raging dysfunction.

[mamalone]

12. Agreed...

I'd really like to find out if it is true... You know it just seems so odd to me that no one is talking about the childcare arrangements of this family. I think everyone assumes they have a nanny, but I am pretty sure they don't. If they did, I think they'd be parading her out along with the whole rest of the crew... you know, to show how wonderful and together and caring and competent they all are... erm, yeah.

I have been asking this question for days, and searching high and low all over the news and internet and I cannot find anything firm... does anyone else think that's a bit weird?

[Captain Hilts]

21. Yes, let's wait and see. If true, how SEXIST is that????

[City Lights]

4. I thought the story was that Bristol missed 5 months of school during Sarah's

pregnancy due to mono.

[Captain Hilts]

22. I hope that's the truth. nt

[mamalone]

5. Thanks so much for the answer!

Do you happen to have a link for that? I am on some other boards with conservative Christian folk, and whenever I question this issue, they all keep saying they are *sure* she has a nanny, *sure* she has made wonderful arrangements for her children.... they all are very dedicated moms, and to be fair to them they can't imagine a mother being as selfish and narcissistic as I believe her to be. I'd love to have some substance to back up my "concerns" about Palin and her commitment to her own family.

[Pirate Smile]

9. That is insane. I'm sorry but that family is screwed up. I'm not supposed to say that, am I?

Too bad. I'm disgusted by the trashy reality sitcom this election has turned into. WTF :wtf:

[City Lights]

3. I thought I read here that her mom will "do whatever she tells her to do,"

implying that her mom helps with child care. I also read something about them having a nanny, but I got the impression that that was years ago.

[monmouth]

6. All I can think when looking at the baby is he needs to be in a

nice warm, clean crib with a blanket on him instead of being passed around. He needs a normal rest pattern. It just screams mild abuse to me but ......

[mamalone]

8. I have two kids with Down syndrome

and when they were infants their immune systems were very very weak. I did bring them out places, of course- by that age they were getting several different types of therapies. But, I was extremely careful about where they went, and who they were in contact with. Never... and I do mean never, were they handed around from person to person, and the largest crowd they were ever in was a church service. I would occasionally let others hold them, but only after they had carefully washed their hands, and they always had a blanket between themselves and the baby. You might think I am over protective, but I wasn't all that unusual. If you have a kid with a health concern, you do what you need to do to keep them healthy.

Well, at least most of us do :(

[monmouth]

11. Of course you do and kisses to your children. Palin strikes me

as a "scatterbrain"..my mother's favorite word for describing someone who seems to be constantly "winging" it....

[mamalone]

13. Scatterbrain...

well put! :rofl:

[CoffeeCat]

14. I don't think she's scatterbrained...

She comes off as a complete narcissist--very focused on herself and completely oblivious
to how her actions affect those around her--even her children.

She has the ability to focus. Just only on herself.

[mamalone]

15. At the risk of sounding scatterbrained myself...

I'll kinda contradict myself and agree with you... I said in another post that I see her as oppressively narcissistic, and anyone who has ever had the misfortune to be in close relationship with a narcissist knows how oppressive they can be:(

[CoffeeCat]

16. Plenty of experience with that...

And one of the very few perks of being raised by two raging narcissists--and spending some time
in therapy healing from their damage--is an uncanny ability to recognize the affliction in other
people--especially parents.

Sarah Palin is a raging red flag for me.

She does not hesitate to use her children are props. Meanwhile her daughter is pregnant and her
youngest, special-needs baby is being neglected. Her sister married an alleged abuser, and her
pregnant daughter is with a bad boy.

You don't have to have a doctorate in psychology to see the raging dysfunction here.

It's obvious.

[mamalone]

17. I'm so sorry about your parents....

From what I've seen on the boards here, you've done an admirable work of becoming a whole, comfortable and caring person yourself, and for that I applaud you:) My personal narcissist is my dh (we've been separated for over 8 years). Once you've been around one the red flags are unmistakable. And to me, Palin is one huge bright blinking neon red flag.

I just feel so badly for her kids:(

[CoffeeCat]

19. Thanks for your kind words...

...and I am sorry about your dh. I applaud you for being able to break free though...and separate from him. That's
a lot easier said than done, even if you're miserable.

And I agree about seeing the affliction in others. It's almost a curse, being able to recognize it, because many
narcissists and psychopaths are respected and in positions of power and authority.

I do feel sorry for her children, too. Children of narcissists suffer greatly, because they grow up believing
that their parents are right and they are wrong or defective. When your narcissistic parent is in the limelight,
it's even more malignant, because it feels like everyone around you loves your parent--and as the child you feel
even more alone.

I'm sure at least one of those kids will grow up and write a tell-all. Sad.

[Arkansas Granny]

18. One of my babies was premature and I took the same precautions for months.

I don't think you were over protective at all. I was very bothered by seeing Trig in such a crowded, noisy and potentially bacteria-laden environment just so they could show off their family. I think they could have easily explained his absence from the convention and the audience would have been very understanding.

[mamalone]

20. oh, absolutely...

Actually anyone who was being honest with themselves would think better of her for it, don't you think?

One other thing I am wondering.. is the baby getting any early intervention services? By that age my kids with Down syndrome were seeing at least 2 different therapists. The first year of life is absolutely critical for a child with DS... the level of help they get during that time can affect their functioning level for their entire lives. I highly doubt they are carting Trig's therapists along to the convention so that means that he has been missing his therapy sessions, or even worse, that he isn't getting any intervention at all:(