"Can Palin Escape the Parent Trap?" is an article by Nancy Gibbs featured in this week's edition of Time. Gibbs points out the difficulty that Palin may have when having to chose between work and family.

Women are definitely climbing the ladder and making a grand appearance in the political and corporate world. After Clinton made all of those cracks in the glass ceiling, Palin is still hammering away. Palin may be the first woman Vice President in our nation's history, but what will she have to compromise to take on this role?

Because Palin is a woman, it seems that the public is definitely focusing more on what she will have to give up. Traditionally, it is the mother who stays at home with the children, but these days, roles are reversing. Palin's husband is staying home with the kids while Palin is trying to work her way to the White House.

Many people wonder if Palin can handle spending so little time with her family. Palin has made it clear that she is ready to put her country first, but the public is still questioning whether she really can or not. Would this even come up if a man was in her same political and parental situation?

In my opinion, I believe that gender should be set aside at this point. Women in this country have made it very clear that we are ready to take on these leadership roles. If Palin wasn't ready to take on the role of Vice President, then she never would have survived being Governor of Alaska. With all of the privileges that Presidents and Vice Presidents receive, Palin may actually be able to take better care of her family as the Vice President of the United States than she would be able to as the Governor of Alaska.

Yes, balancing work life and family life may take an emotional toll on Palin, but she has shown us that she is strong and willing. I don't think that this issue of whether Palin can balance her work life and family life should even be a large issue. There have been many people who have done it successfully in the past. She has agreed to take on this role, and I don't think she would have if she wasn't mentally and emotionally prepared.