The politics of parenting: Reacting to Gov. Sarah Palin’s teenage daughter’s pregnancy

How should we react to the news that Gov. Sarah Palin’s 17-year-old daughter is five months pregnant? How about with the same kind of compassion, empathy and goodwill that ought to characterize our response anytime a teenager faces a life-changing and challenging situation.

Parents across America who haven’t faced the heartbreak of sitting down to learn their teen is pregnant should remind themselves, “there but for the grace of God go I,” because statistics say most of us could easily find ourselves helping a teenager through this difficult circumstance. Those who have been through it already know it’s deeply personal and complicated – and not a situation that suggests placing blame or pointing fingers about parenting. If anything, we can all blame a culture that tells teenagers an active sex life is normal and appropriate and that abstinence is an unrealistic ideal.

Gov. Palin and her husband appear to have rallied around their daughter and offered their support, encouragement and love. Anyone who would judge this family is living in a glass house… and we all know that’s a dangerous place to live!