Parenting

Monday, November 30, 2009

Crabmommy: The right to choose?

I believe every woman has a right to choose, but lately my belief has been seriously tested.

Crabmommy tries to steer clear of politics in this blog because who wants to hear anything serious from me? However, I'm making an exception today to question Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin's ability to use good judgment and make sound choices. With regard to baby names.

By now many women around the country have apparently been impressed with Ms. Palin's ability to juggle both Blackberry and breast pump. Yes, this lady has a whole lotta babies and yet she still finds time to shoot caribou and do a bunch of other stuff we moms can relate to.

More or less: Four women explain how they chose the number of the children they have.

But, Crabmommy readers, can you really in good conscience support a woman who deviates so seriously from the norm of tasteful baby naming when it comes to her brood? Okay, so two of her kids have names we can't make much out of: Willow and Piper. But then she's got a boy named Track. Why? Because the family loves track and field. And they have another boy named Trig -- you know, the Norse word for "strength." And then there's a daughter named Bristol, who is herself pregnant (at 17, and therefore doubly likely to call her child something dodgy too).

Are You Ready for Another Child? Take this humorous quiz and to find out if you're ready or not for number two, three or higher.

People, Crabmom is seriously worried. Are you telling me that someone who calls her kid Track is sufficiently level-headed to have her finger near the nuclear button? And I ask you, if these people get into the White House, what on earth is going to happen to baby names countrywide? Forget Utah and its weirdo baby names, our entire country would go nuts with the newly ordained Palin power monikers: as a result we'd see a nation spawning kids called Hurdle, Liverpool, and whatever-all novel names they can dream up. In short, it's going to be a baby-naming free-for-all, and I'm not sure our country can handle it.

Track. Trig. And Bristol? Bristol is a city in the UK, which means it's not even in the United States. Frankly I find that choice un-American. Which makes it unpatriotic. Indeed, one might even go so far as to say that Gov. Palin borders on immoral when it comes to this issue. All of which makes me wonder if we wouldn't be better off in a society that regulates our freedoms when it comes to baby names, protecting mothers against our own bad decisions?

What's in a name? As various monikers fall in and out of favor we can tell you the meaning, but not the motivation.

Tough call. I've been wrestling with this quandary all weekend. In the end, though, I'm staying true to my long-held principles. As such, I support Palin's right to choose, but with baby names like that she's not getting this mommy's vote.

Malia and Natasha (Sasha) on the other hand...

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From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 62
  • Laura's Avatar
    Posted by Laura Tue Sep 2, 2008 10:40am PDT

    Oh, PLEEESSE! I know several Hunters. How about Paige. That belongs in a book. I have met Billy Kidd, he was 74. And Jack Frost came to my drive up window at the bank I worked at. Oh yeah, must not forget the guy I went to high school with, Robin Hood. Ms. Palin's kids names seem kinda normal sounding.

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  • Andrea B's Avatar
    Posted by Andrea B Tue Sep 2, 2008 10:52am PDT

    That's really funny. I agree the name issue here in the USA has gotten out of control.

    Where I am from (Argentina), you cannot use weird names. There's a list of approved names. And before people get all "that's so socialist" and all, let me just say that there are millions of regular names that are permitted. You just can't name your kid Frigidair or Ford Motors or Chair or Track or Paris, a name of a city or state or country or anything like that. And you cannot use foreign names unless one of the parents is foreign as well. (For instance, I could not name a son John unless me or the father were from an english-speaking country--I'd have to name it Juan).

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  • Andrea B's Avatar
    Posted by Andrea B Tue Sep 2, 2008 10:53am PDT

    lol peek2keep. My husband knew a Candy Cane in high school.

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  • Amanda W's Avatar
    Posted by Amanda W Tue Sep 2, 2008 11:20am PDT

    My daughter is Bradley, and yes I am serious. She is a super girly girl. Leave the woman alone. It seems to me she has bigger fish to fry at this point, right?

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  • Sarah's Avatar
    Posted by Sarah Tue Sep 2, 2008 12:02pm PDT

    I really love your blog but I am kind of disheartened by this one! I am in Alaska and I think Sarah Palin has done a great job here. That is not to say I think she would do a great job as VP but she is great here. As for the names.... Bristol is actually for Bristol Bay. That is here in Alaska, not the one in the UK. Willow is also a town in Alaska.

    I agree about baby names today. They are outrageous and horrible but at least a couple of these names have meaning! They are not just because they want their child to have a "cool" name that others will not have. At least they are spelled correctly!!!!

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  • Maria's Avatar
    Posted by Maria Tue Sep 2, 2008 1:37pm PDT

    Thank you! This is exactly what I was thinking when I was reading about her kids names. I'm sorry but naming your kid track because you like track and field? I like ice cream but I'm not naming a kid Haagen Dazs

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  • HotCrossBuns's Avatar
    Posted by HotCrossBuns Tue Sep 2, 2008 3:07pm PDT

    FYI: There is actually a Bristol in both TN and PA.

    But I agree with the names. Track? Trig? I wonder what Bristol going to name her baby, Calc?

    Most adults I know with sketchy names are embarassed by them. A lot of them go by more down to earth middle names, if they happen to have been graced with at least that much.

    I used to deal with a man named Dewey Dicks in my working days. Were his parents really that inept or just plain mean?

    As a final thought, I do commend Mrs Palin for being the kind of woman who not only CAN juggle a family of 7 as well as hold a stressful public office, but she CHOOSES to do both as well. And to be supportive of her daughter instead of trying to sweep the little "family issue" under the rug for the sake of her campaign, well, that says a lot about the magnitude of public pressure she's capable of handling. I can't say as though I'd vote for McPain just because she has come on board, but I do admire her for the strong woman she is. (She shoots caribou for sport for Pete's sake!)

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  • Monique's Avatar
    Posted by Monique Tue Sep 2, 2008 5:41pm PDT

    Yes they're different names but I'd rather have a name that was unique and not on the top 10 list of baby names.

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  • jenny's Avatar
    Posted by jenny Tue Sep 2, 2008 6:21pm PDT

    My daughters name is Rainy Michelle Isabella.....just thought it was pretty. Going to tame my tongue on the rest.

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  • kitsune's Avatar
    Posted by kitsune Tue Sep 2, 2008 11:36pm PDT

    "As such, I support Palin's right to choose, but with baby names like that she's not getting this mommy's vote."

    the names of her children should have nothing to do with someone voting for her. *shakes head*

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