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I didn’t notice any comments at all about Bristol and Levi in the Chelsea Clinton thread, other than the comment you made, Zoos. Was there something else?</p>
<p>zoosermom- I can not imagine how difficult it must be to grow up in front of the public. There is a cable television highlight of my kid brother giving the double bird to a high school basketball crowd. He did a back flip through the opposing team’s cheerleaders and came up with the birds in full view for the crowd. My dad was watching at home and almost swallowed his tongue. The school principal had my mom to school the next day said my brother may be the horniest kid the high school ever saw and it caused him to show off for the girls. My brother is a very successful executive at a major company, happily married and a fine person. Between the ages of 16-20 he was an idiot.</p>
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Oh. My. God. That’s hilarious and humiliating at the same time. Does your brother have kids? I’d bet they would have fun with that. We all have to face our consequences, right? But if the truth were told, wouldn’t most kids have something in their past that they aren’t proud of? Awful enough without adults making fun.</p>
<p>Where can we find the clip, tom?? That must be a sight to see! And between the ages of 16-20, many adolescents were idiots!! Seems to come with the territory as they grow and learn.</p>
<p>Two boys and a wonderful wife. He also once ran his car through a fence at the local cemetery and somehow was able to convince the cops to tell my parents it was not his fault. No tickets, no points, two cops on my parents front steps saying it could have happened to anyone. My dad was dumbfounded. I think my brother was 17 or 18 at the time.</p>
<p>Is your brother in law or politics (or both)??</p>
<p>Sales…</p>
<p>By the way I have many stories of individuals that have turned out to be fine adults that if their teenage and early 20’s were viewed in public we would all be mortified. Yes I include myself.</p>
<p>Ahh-- that fits too. He can , as they say, sell sand to the Arabs (no offense to anyone-- its just an expression)</p>
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My brother actually did the same thing at the local golf course and convinced the police to tell my mom that he sneezed. My brother is now a father of three and grandfather of seven. But, oh, the stories I could tell!</p>
<p>My kids have always been perfect angels. 
As was I of course. Now about that ocean front property in Arizona…</p>
<p>I have never envied people whose every breath is fodder for the “news” (and I use that term very loosely). Wouldn’t mind the ‘rich’ part of rich and famous, have no desire for the famous.</p>
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OMG - I would have just died of embarrassment!! Or maybe laughed a bit. Or maybe died of laughing. Probably a combination of both.</p>
<p>Well, since this is Chelsea’s day, let’s congratulate her on her sensible navigation through the early years (or on her tremendous luck?).</p>
<p>Yes congratulations to her. She looked radiant.</p>
<p>swimcat- my kid brother was 4th in line by the time he was conducting his escapades my parents had already been through other events. I also lived in a neighborhood with families having 5-13 kids so they also knew other kids that pushed the envelope.
It was a solid middle class neighborhood and on the whole the kids that grew up there have had very successful lives both economically and more importantly in their family lives. We did cause turmoil as kids though- 20-30 boys ages 13-16 hanging out in the summer will do that. Sprinkle in the same number of girls and well stories about Levi and Bristol pale in comparison.</p>
<p>I think it is unfortunate that Bristol and Levi have chosen to be in the limelight in a very public fashion. Their relationship ups and downs ought to be private. They have surely opened themselves up for commentary.</p>
<p>True soozie. very true. They have made some very unfortunate choices. Were either of them my kid, I would hold them gently (not) by the ear and talk some sense into them. Which is obviously lacking in both families. But I still think it’s unfortunate to see professional parents, particularly people whose identities aren’t really anonymous, acting like mean girls and boys.</p>
<p>I don’t know how much influence their parents have here. After all, the couple went very public with the engagement announcement in US Magazine before even divulging to their parents that they were engaged. Further, I think before some of these recent developments, the Palins also opted to put Bristol and Levi in the limelight, thus inviting commentary which is only natural with public stories.</p>
<p>Soozie, my mother still has influence over me and I’m old as dirt! It’s all about the parenting, though, you know?</p>
<p>They have opted to put themselves in the limelight, without question. I totally agree with you. However, finding out that the father of her baby probably cheated had to have hurt. You work with young people (and quite successfully, I hear) and I find it surprising that someone with your credentials and stellar reputation would get enjoyment out of the misery of someone in that age range. That said, I can’t fault your logic and judgment on the whole sordid mess.</p>
<p>I do not derive “enjoyment out of their misery.” It is a public news story. As such, on a forum, not in direct contact with these young people, I have commented about their situation, as have many. That is not the same as talking to these young people directly. I don’t find it amusing. I have said many times that it is all unfortunate. However, if they CHOOSE to be public about it, they invite commentary (amongst the public) about their situation. </p>
<p>Yes, parents can influence their kids. But these kids have parent who ALSO chose to put them in the limelight and supported public interviews and the like.</p>
<p>There are lots of things in the news that are interesting to many. After all, if they were not of interest, they wouldn’t make the news. If a topic in a post is not of interest to someone, they certainly don’t need to read that post. I personally don’t get many of the reality tv shows-- especially the “housewives” ones and Jersey shore. But these people choose to put their lives out in public, and with that comes observation and commentary. It was the choice they made.</p>
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Haven’t people who are fans of the Palins been saying all along that parenting has nothing to do with it? Hasn’t it been expressed here that Sarah shouldn’t be criticized for her parenting because no matter what you do, sometimes it doesn’t turn out well? Haven’t the right been saying that we should speak only of her public credentials and leave her private life alone? That parents should be able to devote their lives to their careers and not be criticized for her the kids turn out? That we weren’t allowed to comment negatively on her priorities? </p>
<p>So…is parenting important, or isn’t it?</p>