I made it a point to keep politics off the blog (although those who know me know I love me some Obamas), but I feel like I have to comment on the Bristol Palin situation.
As we all know, a few days after Sarah Palin accepted her party’s nomination for vice president, word spread that Bristol, her daughter, was about five months pregnant and “engaged” to the father.
Fast forward to five months after the campaign and three months after the little guy (little Tripp Palin) made his entrance into the world. Now reports have surfaced that Levi and Bristol have indeed broken up.
Levi’s giving quotes to the press saying he gets to see his son “whenever he wants,” but he’s not mature enough for marriage and although he’d like to get back with Bristol, they both have some growing up to do.
Um, yeah, about that.
Memo to Levi: You had a chance to grow up. Remember those months where Bristol told you she was pregnant and then lo and behold she kept getting bigger and bigger? Yup, that would’ve been the time to grow up. But you didn’t take it.
Let me remind you that you’re not some 14-year-old out here with no sense of direction. You are 19!!! And you were messing around with the governor’s daughter. Um, hello? Is anyone home here?
Sure, it’s great that you get to see your son “whenever” but guess what? So does Bristol! It’s not so easy for her to say, “Man, motherhood is way too hard and I can’t do this, so I’m out.” She’s stuck with all the responsibility while you go and “grow up.”
Looking through the comments on some of these stories has been disturbed as well. Commenters posting things like, “Run, Levi, run!” and “Get out while you can!”
Seriously? Regardless of your political leanings, don’t you have any sympathy for Bristol? Encouraging her child’s father (I will never say baby daddy – blech) to leave her is disgusting beyond words.
Bristol is learning the hard way what it means to be a mom, and unfortunately she’s learning it all by herself.
I agree. People can be extremely insensitive. One thing that irks me is how much people look down on unplanned pregnancies. I mean, okay, there are ways to prevent it, but honestly, no one is perfect and it could happen to anyone who is sexually active.
I definitely feel for her. It’s hard enough being a young mom, let alone having to do it alone and dealing with the scrutiny of the public eye. People can definitely be cruel. Hopefully she will triumph and come out of this a stronger and wiser person.
Totally agree all around! (Even the “Baby Daddy” comment.) I definitely feel for Bristol, I cannot imagine being a single parent (let alone in the public eye), motherhood is hard enough as it is even with two adults around.
That said… my husband and I were 19 when we had our daughter AND married. It’s not impossible to “grow up” then. Levi apparently just doesn’t want to own up to it.
how about we just chalk this up to poor decision making. While moms was focusing on abstinence, the good old folks in Alaska should have been talking about SAFE SEX.
If anything, it demonstrates how as parents sometimes we forget that we were children.
Let’s be honest, most people aren’t ready to be parents at 19 (heck some of us aren’t ready to be parents at 30). Let me take it a step further, MOST OF US are not ready to have sex at that age EITHER.
@Leah – Thank you, Leah. I can point to you and your husband as just one couple who realized that they had a big responsibility on their hands and need to grow up and deal with it. As far as Levi is concerned, though – didn’t the fact that he was dating the governor’s daughter maybe get him thinking? I just don’t get it, but I hope he realizes what a big job fatherhood is and being a part-time daddy doesn’t cut it.
@Erica – EXTREMELY insensitive. I feel bad for Bristol (a little) because she didn’t ask to be on the national stage. If her mom hadn’t accepted the nomination, we wouldn’t be talking about her right now. She’d just be a nameless, faceless single mom like so many others. Would her life be easier? I don’t know…
@ Dantresomi – I agree that most people aren’t ready to be parents at 19. But once the baby is already here, what is your option? In my mind, you only have one choice – you grow the hell up. And NOW. The time to “figure out what I want to do” and “grow up a little” has come and gone. Figure out what it means to be a dad/mom and get to moving….