For many Sarah Palin’s family situation only adds to her appeal, especially among pro-lifers, as John McCain’s VP running mate. Not only is she the mother of five (a relatively large number by today’s standards), but Palin and her husband Todd chose life for their 5th child, son Trig, after he was prenatally diagnosed with Down syndrome. This is significant considering that roughly 90% of unborn children diagnosed with Sown syndrome are aborted in the U.S. today.

But for those who have some concerns about how she’ll juggle the pressures of such a demanding position and her duties as a mother to a child with special needs (an objection I’ve heard more than once) this is from a May article on Palin a month after Trig’s birth:

Three days after giving birth, Palin returned to work in her Anchorage office, accompanied by Trig and her husband.

This was not a mother’s typical visit to the office to show off the new baby; instead, she was serving notice that a child of special needs would not hinder her professional commitments.

“It’s a sign of the times to be able to do this,” she said. “I can think of so many male candidates who watched families grow while they were in office.

“There is no reason to believe a woman can’t do it with a growing family. My baby will not be at all or in any sense neglected.”

Somehow I don’t think she would have accepted McCain’s nomination if she thought it would seriously inhibit her ability to mother her children. She also seems to have a very supportive husband who will help with the parenting duties as I’m sure he already does. Besides, Palin has that kind of no nonsense that suggests she would have no problem telling the powers that be when she needs a break or to make adjustments in her schedule to better suit her number one job of wife and mother.