Sarah Palin:
“And children with special needs inspire a very, very special love. To the families of special needs children all across this country, I have a message for you. For years you have sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters and I pledge to you that if we’re elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House.”
She spoke directly to me. She knows the biggest joys can bring the biggest challenges.
You have asked – Amy when are you going to blog about Sarah?
I am not a one-issue voter. Just because she has the gift of a child with an extra chromosome does not mean I think she is able to lead the country and I think the only change that Obama wants is what is left in my pocket. I will leave my decision to the debates and then see what I think.
I am not drawn to her because of Down syndrome. However, I am drawn to her because she does NOT speak about her child in regards to his specific disability. She describes HER SON. HER CHILD. Her whole family. She is dealing with an enormous amount of pressure and doing it beautifully as far as I can see.
She is a typical mom who was handed a typical life and she is moving along and dealing with it. Do you want her to cry “oh poor me – someone owes me something because my child has special needs. I’m going to just hide from the world and cry about it.” I am sure that the majority of my friends who have a child with special needs are doing exactly what Sarah Palin is doing. Getting on with life.
I am so sick of opening the paper, turning on the radio or TV and listening to the mainstream media refer to Trig, as her Down syndrome child or Down’s child. HELLO!! Take a people first language class PLEASE! He is a little boy. He is her son. He is Trig. He happens to HAVE Down syndrome it is not WHO he is.
Last night there was a letter to the editor in our local paper. “I am so glad she decided to have her Down syndrome baby.” I almost threw up. Do people even read the crap they write? Did the paper edit her comments like usual and reduce this beautiful human being down to a chromosome?
Oh and just FYI it’s not Down’s syndrome. It is Down syndrome. No one owns it. No one owns my girls extra chromosome. She is a little girl. She is Larkin. She is our daughter. She just happens to have Down syndrome. If you cannot get it right – then do not talk about our kids.
YOU GO GIRL!!! Let’s all get that T-shirt you told me about months ago . . . remember? (It’s not down’s syndrome) I’m glad that Palin wants awareness but you are so right, her son is a child and should be known for being him not Sara Palin’s Down Syndrome child. Like you I have many mixed feelings about who to vote for. I can’t tell if they use these angles just for the vote or if they are really sincere about their political views!!! I’m glad to hear your voice on her being the next VP elect, I kept wondering what you thought.
I agree with you that the media does not know how to refer to Trig without some qualifier. It is quite sad but unfortunately this society is obsessed with labels. I think it’s great that SP spoke to families of children with special needs. I’m just wondering what that really means in terms of action. SP has the means to get the best of everything for her children, but what about those Americans who don’t?
Many people are spreading mis-information about SP and the budget for Alaska. I think this speaks to her action for those with special needs. I haven’t had a chance to look at the education budget in total yet.
The special education budget in Alaska actually increased by nearly 12%, as explained below.
The Alaska 2007 budget for special education was $8,265,300. But that included $5,352,000 for the Alaska Challenge Youth Academy.
Look closer: the 2009 budget has no mention of the Alaska Challenge Youth Academy. Instead, you have to look elsewhere. There is now a specific document providing $6,082,100 for the Alaska Challenge Youth Academy.
Here: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/omb/09_omb/budget/EED/comp2837.pdf
OMG I couldn’t of said it better myself!!! I love your post and the passion behind it.. I feel the same way you do about Sarah and HER family & HER son.. Thanks for posting this and for the grammar lessons to those who need it!!
I ALWAYS love coming by and reading your straight forward,from the heart no holes barred ,posts.Your a straight shooter Amy,no BS and I love that.Thank you once again for a good read and a smile!Glad Larkin is feeling better!
Amen!
I agree with you that she talks the right game, but I have the same concerns that LBOTP expressed.
She went back to work 3 days after having Trig. Special needs or not, who elects to go back to work 3 days after giving birth? Who is o.k. leaving their brand new baby with someone else at that point?
Perhaps someone who can’t fully relate to the rest of us and our struggles. Perhaps someone with nannies and help to raise their children. Someone who is removed from day-to-day needs both physically, financially, and emotionally of many American families.
I agree with your issues with the media coverage. A special needs child isn’t a badge of honor or a ball and chain of responsibility to drag around. A special needs child is a child. It’s just that simple.
We all need to look at the world a little differently. I’m always glad to be reminded of that. You have no idea how often I think of things you’ve said. It may have nothing to do with what you were talking about but your insight often transcends the issues close to your heart. Aw, that sounds mushy. Anyhow I’m glad to listen.
With the naming of Sarah Palin on the ticket, McCain’s gutsy yet calculated decision has opened the door to victory. Women can identify with her on some realm whether it is the special needs, unwed pregnant daughter, pro-life, frugal spending though to us it still may seem excessive, growing up in a small town,son in the military, stay at home mom who attends sports events and PTA meetings, or a working mom who worked her way up the ladder. Maybe we don’t work or if we do didn’t go back in 3 days (her husband took a leave)but then again, we need to make allowances and be appreciative that she is bringing many issues to the forefront under tremendous scrutiny with sincerity, wholesemness, and poise thus is in a position to shatter the highest glass ceiling and can be your advocate on some of the issues above.
I didn’t know that SP went back to work 3 days after giving birth. But now that I do, I have even MORE admiration for her. Did anyone ever think that maybe SP had already figured out what a newborn baby needs having previously had 4 children. And did anyone think that Trig also has a father that can also support and nurture this child. Maybe this women is so organized and together that she is able to go back to work 3 days postpartum and as we all know, that was a huge undertaking – yet she did it successfully. Hmmm, maybe she is ready for the next step.
Well I went back to work when Larkin was less then 3 days old. I have a house to run and 2 children and a husband. Thankfully I healed very well after her birth and I hit the ground running. We knew hours after her birth that they thought something was up – they just didn’t know exactly WHAT was wrong. My giving birth became secondary to this little girls health and well being. SP had a long time prior to birth to know what her child’s needs were going to be. I can’t judge her based upon timing. It’s not my decision to make but hers alone. So she returned to helping her state run and I returned to helping my family run. Not a lot of difference except I don’t have the multi-million dollar budget 🙂
Hi Amy, I was thrilled to find my poem on your site and I’m so glad if it touched you in any way. One of my best childhood friends has a daughter named Alicia May. I wrote this poem for her. Amazingly, I have a children’s book which is coming out next spring relating to Alicia and her older sister, Rachel. I’d love to get your feedback on it. You can read the blurb on http://www.pleasantstpress.com. Keep the faith! You’re blogs are so real…I love it.
Blessings, Nancy