A Mom and the Vice President

The nomination of Sarah Palin as vice presidential candidate for the Republican Party has sparked quite a bit of debate. Is she ready to lead? Is she qualified? Should we be concerned about her daughter’s pregnancy?

 

While all of those questions are intriguing, the question that interests me the most deals with how this self-proclaimed hockey mom will juggle motherhood and the demands of the job as Vice President and possibly President, should something happen to John McCain. 

 

This question strikes a chord with me because as the mother of two children, including a special needs child, I struggle daily to meet the demands of my job, marriage, motherhood and all that comes with it.

 

I work a full-time job as a communications manager. Because I must work, it leaves less time to do what I need to do for my children, especially my daughter. Although she does not have something as severe as Downs Syndrome, (like Palin’s son) her diagnoses (and there are several) require regular doctor’s visits to various specialists, a daily regimen of medication and close monitoring in school. 

 

I’ve already had to see the teacher at least three times and they’ve only been in school for a month.  For whatever reason, she isn’t eating lunch so that has to be addressed, and then there are the activities the specialists suggest I do with my daughter to help her become more successful. Having a special needs child is something very hard to understand until you live it - it’s fighting with insurance companies for benefits, making sure you do your research before you agree to yet another medication, helping her feel good about herself even though she may be different from other children, keeping up with doctor’s visit, researching the diagnoses you’re given so you know what to do, and the list goes on.

And then there is the guilt. Remember I have two children. My son needs my attention too. He loves sports and shouldn’t be deprived of participating just because I need to focus on his sister. He has homework too and is in the third grade so we are already focused on the overbearing FCAT. Sometimes I feel guilty because I don’t think I give him all of the attention he deserves. I feel bad when I am late to one of his games because his sister has an appointment.

 

I feel guilty when I’m sometimes so tired at the end of the day that I may not remember to ask my husband how his day went. I feel guilty because by the time you work a full day, pick up the kids from aftercare, feed them, check homework and get baths, there’s little time for much else before bed. I haven’t figured out how to balance the needs of two children who are close in age but miles a part in terms of their levels of development. How do I make time to connect with my husband and not focus all of my time away from work on my children?

 

I can’t say that Palin’s decision to accept a place on the ticket is right or wrong. But I do believe that when you have kids you must often put your desires on hold to do whatever is necessary for the children. There was a time when I had big dreams for my career. But today, my biggest dream is to find some way to tip the scale, more time with family, less time with work. The chance to be the first woman on the Republican ticket may be the career move of a lifetime, but the job of mom is the most important one any mother will ever do. If the Republicans win the bid, I’ll be interested to see how this hockey mom pulls it off. Maybe she can give me a few pointers -  I’m still trying to figure it out.

Comments

[H]

very good feed

[gaiaonline gold]

I’ll be interested to see how this hockey mom pulls it off. Maybe she can give me a few pointers - I’m still trying to figure it out.