On Second Thought: Episode 3

Trust me, it’s crazy to see your life on television. That’s why every week, I’m going to do a blog posts called “On Second Thought.” These posts are where I will go over the episodes of my Lifetime show as I process the issues presented now that I’ve seen them aired.  I hope you’ll join me for these weekly posts – which will undoubtedly be part-confession, part-explanation, and part-celebration of my life right now!

In case you missed them, here are my first two “On Second Thoughts!”

Episode One

Episode Two

On Second Thought: Episode 3

“I’ve failed as a mother,” I said to Willow in front of Tripp.  Why did I say that?  Because as much as I try, I’m only one person trying to create a family without a father.  I’ve brought a son into the world who won’t know his dad.

This is why we really should trust God to know what’s best for our lives.  In high school, I knew I shouldn’t have been with Levi.  Had I followed God’s laws about having sex within the context of marriage-only, I would’ve prevented a great deal of heartache and pain.

I’ve said this before, but it’s worth saying again: Tripp was not the mistake.  Tripp is a gift from God.  But there’s no denying it: I’ve put him in a less than ideal family situation.

On second thought, maybe I shouldn’t have said I’ve failed as a mom.  After all, I’m going to be a mom for the rest of my life, and every day is new!  Though I didn’t start this process out in the right way, God is forgiving and wonderful to me.  He helps me through each day!

When I found out Levi was writing a book, I was sure it’d be classified as fiction.  However, when his book came out, it was as bad as I’d feared.  Friends texted me gross snippets.  I read details in the newspapers.  It’s crazy to get used to the idea that there is someone out there who is determined on misrepresenting my life and our relationship.  But, after our debut on the national scene in 2008, I guess I’ve gotten a little more used to it.

I won’t lie.  When we were to the range to shoot trap, I was excited about the possibility of using his “memoir” as a target.  My only fear is that I’d miss it! Shooting at the little clay disks was fun, but I considered that mere practice for when I could get his book out.  (Did you see what a great shot my friend Marissa is? Do not mess with her!)

We had an awesome instructor, who helped us a great deal…  As you can see, we tore that book up.  My frustration over his “tell all” was blown away with every round.

Oh yeah.  And there was that scene with the paparazzi.  In Alaska, people are used to seeing us, because everyone knows everyone in Wasilla.  Yes, there are some reporters who will make the trek from other places in order to dig up dirt, but the most we get is usually some waves from people at restaurants or on the road.  When I lived in Arizona, people saw the Alaska plates on my truck and would speed up to see if it was possibly a Palin vehicle.  Most people are friendly and considerate of our family, and simply want to say hello.

But you can’t find a more celebrity-focused area than Los Angeles.  Reporters are everywhere trying to get photos of stars, who apparently are everywhere.  Since I definitely don’t consider myself a celebrity, it’s always funny to see them trying to snap a photo of me, Tripp, and Willow.

When we were eating outside, I saw them gathering on the other side of the road.  On second thought, should I have asked him to stick his tongue out at the media?

Definitely! I’ve got to raise the boy with some values, after all!
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  • ResponsibleHardworking REALSingleMom

    This is your quote from your synopsis above:

    [When we were eating outside, I saw them gathering on the other side of the road. On second thought, should I have asked him to stick his tongue out at the media?
    Definitely! I’ve got to raise the boy with some values, after all!]

    Unless this is a typo and should have read “Definitely NOT!”, then you may need to re-think exactly what the definition of “Values” is.

    • Jinky

      when bristol talks values, she must mean entertainment value as i didnt see many “family” values last night. no wonder the ratings are way down from even last weeks pitiful ratings….

      • GrizzlyMom

        Agreed Jinky… they keep dropping and dropping week after week. People know a sham when they see one.

        • Sue

          And yet here you are… week after week.

  • Jocelyn

    Love your show Bristol. Gino seems like a good guy, hope he is a keeper.

  • LMA

    Amazing that you still insist you’re not a celebrity. You have achieved celebrity status (albeit to a lesser degree than, say, entertainers or actors or famous athletes) because of your name. You’ve been on “Dancing with the Stars” and now have your own reality show. You’ve lived in a mansion in L.A. You’ve published a book. Who else does all that without the connections offered by having a famous name? Get real, Bristol. You come off as completely disingenuous when you choose not to own your status.

    • Tim

      LMA, you sound green with envy.

      • LMA

        No, Tim. Definitely not green with envy. I’m very proud of having made my way in the world. Just offering a word of advice. I think Bristol will earn a lot more empathy if she stops trying to deny what she is — a celebrity.

        • ResponsibleHardworking REALSingleMom

          What is to be ENVIOUS of? LOL. Not THAT’S funny Tim.

          • ResponsibleHardworking REALSingleMom

            meant to say NOW that’s funny….:)

        • Emma Lora

          Sooo… she doesn’t feel like a celebrity!!

          • LMA

            Well maybe she should start feeling like one! There are few things more annoying than celebrities who enjoy the perks of their celebrity status while struggling to convince everyone that they’re not celebrities. Bristol, unlike MANY unwed teen moms, is blessed to have a family of means, a support system, and at least some access to large amounts of cash by being on TV and exploiting her name. I call that a pretty nice hand she’s been dealt. Maybe she’s ungrateful. And maybe the American public agrees with me, because no one is watching her show.

      • kblah

        Tim, following your logic would mean that anybody who says anything unflattering or not wholly complimentary about, oh, say, Snookie, is “green with envy” over her life? Or does jealousy only afflict those who don’t agree with your worldview? Just curious to know how that works.

    • Piscean Gal

      LMA, and ALL before she is 21! AMAZING, isn’t it!?

  • Tim

    We liked watching your show…how real & down to earth your family is.
    Rock-On Bristol!

  • http://ardiejnelson.blogspot.com AJ

    Dear Bristol,
    Since you asked for your viewers thoughts…I appreciated the wisdom of Andy and Gino in these episodes. If you do marry Gino my counsel is that you let him be Tripp’s father and let the sperm donor fade into the past. You are bravely exposing yourself to the public in this show, I pray there will be many who will be encouraged and challenged by your life.

    Sincerely,
    AJ

    • Georgia

      Excellent advice, AJ. Levi is still controlling Bristol’s life and she is giving him permission to do so by contacting him and his girlfriend. She’s has a good guy who actually loves her and her son and appears to be devoted to both. Bristol ought to forget that Levi exists. Tripp is far better off without Levi’s foul influence in his precious and very malleable life. Get on with YOUR life Bristol. Your fans love you and want the best for you. Levi is toxic to both you and little Tripp.

  • ManxMamma

    Bristol, if God is guiding you why does He allow you to wallow in self-pity, teach your child such horrible behavior, and have such disrespect for the world around you. Shame on you.

  • Fred

    Bristol,

    I’m sorry. I’m sympathetic to your plight but it’s simply wrong of you to publicly air your differences with Levi in front of Tripp. Any family counselor will tell you that this is really bad for the child. However bad Levi is, you should NOT talk negatively about him in front of Tripp. Like it or not, he IS Tripp’s father.

    The guy in the bar put your mom down in front of you. Now you’re putting Tripp’s father down in front of him. I’m sure that made you feel very angry. Since Tripp is only a child, he will carry emotional baggage from this for a long time.

    Fred

    • Fred

      See what Dr. Phil has to say about this. There are many other sites that say emphatically that you do NOT disparage the other parent in front of the child. What you’re doing is very bad for Tripp.

      http://www.drphil.com/articles/article/242/

    • Paul

      I definitely disagree. Levi is Tripp’s 23 chromosomes. He’s not his father. Just find yourself a loving father for Tripp, and say whatever the heck you want to about the sperm donor.

    • LMA

      Fred, you’re correct. Having been raised for part of my life by a loving mom who nevertheless couldn’t stand my father and was very vocal about it, I came to internalize her anger and despair. It wasn’t helpful, to say the least. Bristol sure has reason to dislike Levi, but Tripp, simply because Levi is his biological father, cannot deny a connection with Levi. Children want nothing more than to think the best of their parents, and children will forgive. Reconciliation is always best for the child, unless the absentee parent is a dangerous person. Thankfully, my father and I have a great relationship today, but I had to take a stand and tell my mother not to speak ill of him in my presence. Bristol and Levi brought Tripp into this world, and they need to now put their personal feelings aside and always do what’s best for him. Tripp seems happy, but I feel for him. The books, the reality show, the fractured family dynamics on public display…it WILL all affect him.

      • Allison

        I hope she listens to you. No matter what, it’s the right thing to do for the child. He is lovely.

      • ResponsibleHardworking REALSingleMom

        Exactly! Good post. Hopefully she will listen and how can anyone disagree with it? I too was raised by a Mother who carried a lot of hatred towards my Father. (he was a good man) She kept me away from him as much as she could out of spite. He passed away when I was 14. 50 years later I still struggle with her choices that affected ME due to her immaturity and disgust she felt towards her ex-husband. Unfortunately, I was also divorced at a young age when one son was only 3. (his Dad DID truly have issues) I NEVER once uttered a negative comment in the presence of my child. EVER. Now that my son is in his mid-thirties he knows the truth through relatives, other close friends and his Dad himself, who he re-connected with in later years. My son loves and respects me for not bashing his Dad. He did not grow up “hating” his Father for anything I could have said…he appreciates that. Remember, Tripp WILL get older & wiser. No matter what you say or do it WILL be remembered, filed away and come back to bite you in your a$$ in later years. Too bad that you do have a book & now a TV show, items forever preserved, not to mention the INTERNET, for this young man of yours to refer back to. And trust me, he WILL go back to research what you have said about his Dad. What a shame.

        • Fred

          This is so true. You must act for the good of the child. That comes first over everything else.

          Even if Levi has no interest in seeing Tripp now (which may or may not be true), the best thing Bristol should do is leave the door open to them having a relationship later on. If Levi does get more involved at a later date, that would only be good for Tripp. Bristol’s current actions are making it hard for the two of them to ever work together to co-parent Tripp. Of course, having both parents in their life is the best thing for Tripp.

    • Piscean Gal

      Thank you, Fred! Very wise! I really believe in the “parental alienation” aspect of this. I saw it first hand with my husband and his ex, in regards to their two kids. How can we REALLY know how Levi really is with Tripp? Or the contacts he’s tried to make with Bristol? I don’t blame him ONE bit for not answering his phone every time she called him during the show. Nice try Bristol in attempting to make him out to be the bad guy. There are 3 sides to a story, her’s, his and the truth. I’m leaning to his and the truth in what I believe.

  • Mariah

    Bristol, I love your show!! Every tuesday now my cusin comes over so we could watch it together!! It is a great show. And don’t worry about Tripp not having a good dad. In time God will bring that special someone in your life. Just pray and things will come together. I promise. But it will take time.

  • Cheryl

    Has anyone thought maybe there is some bitterness behind the Levi bashing that this show has turned into ? Maybe Levi doesn’t want to air their dirty laundry on TV. Maybe he didn’t answer the phone for that reason. Does anyone really know for sure Levi hasn’t tried for visitation with Tripp ? Bristol said Well he can’t just call up 8 hours in advance and expect to see his son.She says she wants Tripp to have someone he can call Dad then tells him we might see Levi. She always refers to him as Levi , not your Dad. How many of you would like to go up against the power of the Palin’s and not feel the urge to bolt ?
    I am willing to bet Levi has had his head handed to him more than once.And I bet he does want to see his son. He might just think the drama caused by his appearance is wrong for his son..I can’t believe how easy it is for every one to forget if you knew him you might just think Levi is a nice kid.And no I do not know him.

    • myj

      Levi has been begging Bristol to let him spend time with Tripp… He was warned by his advisor not to answer the phone, cause it was a trap to tear him down on the show. The last time he saw Tripp was a few days ago in Bristol’s car with the window up…. Tripp waved at him when he approching the car and Bristol drove off before he came close. Bristol building a case against herself…