Sarah Palin, Motherhood, And The Source Of The Nile

First of all, this is not really about Sarah Palin, Motherhood, or the Source of the Nile. It's really about ME! ME! ME! Because I'm awesome. And because I take everything - everything personally
. . . and because I'm awesome.

I never read political blogs. (You wouldn't have to either if you were married to walking, breathing political commentary) But, like the rest of the universe, I perked up when Sarah Palin was announced. I like Sarah P. because hey! I'm a small town girl too. But there are two main (conservative) reasons why some bloggers think Palin should not be VP:
1) She lacks experience with the big dogs in the political arena.
true. true. But hey! don't all young politicians? She's gotta get experience somewhere - may as well be the white house!
2) She's a mom.
Ouch, I felt that. But okay fine - I can buy this argument.

The thing is, whenever I think about *recognized* women who really made a difference in the world I feel a small pang thinking about my own inconsequential life. And I remember my teaching days in the inner-city (years ago) when I felt smart, needed, and had a sense of mission. I also know (as Sarah Palin must) that being a good teacher (or VP or whatever) is much harder when you are also a committed mother with young children.
So I've been thinking about the value of motherhood - and my own current "lack of experience" in the working world. (I am picturing myself interviewing for a job with my WAY out of style wardrobe and my totally outdated resume. "And how long have you been doing nothing? I mean, been out of the workforce??" my interviewer will ask looking down her nose at my resume. Uhhhh. . . I'm feeling worthless and "lacking experience" just thinking about it.)

But wait a minute! I realized that the reasons Sarah Palin should or should not be up for VP don't really matter - I could argue either way. The real question (all you political bloggers) is this:
Doesn't the "experience" of being a talented (or at least a determined) mom count for anything? Shouldn't it *distinctly* qualify anyone (in many ways) for the White House???
Heck.
Yeah.
Let's face it. Motherhood is probably the best school for thought (worry), patience, planning, quick thinking, compassion, compromise, discipline, fairness, selflessness, leadership, order, and influence. Wouldn't any country be better off with a determined mother in charge? I have learned more about human nature and relationships, the world, morality, and myself (not to mention being calm and collected in the middle of craziness) as a mother than I did in all my years of study and teaching. And I definitely work harder. So how long have I been out of the workforce? you ask?? Let me just look at my watch. Um, about 4 minutes.

. . .

I never watch IMAX movies anywhere but an IMAX theater. However, I just watched "Mystery of the Nile" (an IMAX film documenting a group of explorers on their 3,260 mile death-defying voyage by raft from the source of the Nile in Ethiopia to Egypt and the Mediterranean) on our 4-inch portable DVD player. There were two women on the expedition. A journalist from Germany and an archaeologist from Spain. And I couldn't help admire them - with a little envy. I felt a small pang again as I remembered my younger, freer, and more adventurous self gallivanting around Ethiopia, jeeping along the rugged, war-torn Eritrean border where the ark of the covenant is supposedly hidden, biking through the streets of Cairo, and scuba diving in the Mediterranean. Hmmm. That definitely feels far away now. No mountains or rivers here - unless you count my mountain of laundry and the river of Legos on the stairs. No hidden ancient treasure - unless you count the entire roll of quarters I pried out of the AC vent in my car. No exotic tribal performances - unless you count Brigham's popsicle-painted tummy dance. No certificate of accomplishment - unless you count the googley-faced picture Isaac drew especially for me. And no hair-raising experiences - unless you count my daily heart-attacks watching Spido-Clayton jump, swing, climb, and dive all over our house.

And yet I wouldn't trade those moments for all the adventures or prestige in the world. I wouldn't trade ONE SMIDGE! Because I just can't imagine EVER missing this:

or this.

or this.

And because being a mom is definitely already a lot like being President (just without the media attention and world decision-making) and because I have definitely already found the source of my Nile. . .

And it's not in Ethiopia.

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