On Second Thought: Episode 3

June 27, 2012 By 129 Comments

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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  • Thomas Hubbard

    Briston above all continue with your honsety. Why? honesty is the best policy. I’ve read some of these other comments and it seems to me there’s those who seem to think their spotless, what a joke.

  • Christy Ridenour

    Hi Bristol,

    I watch and enjoy your show, but it makes me sad to see people still refuse to leave your family alone. I understand what you are saying when you say “I’ve put him in a less than ideal family situation”, but I couldn’t think of a better family to handle the situation. I have been blessed to meet several of your family members. You have a great family that supports you. Your family is awesome. When I am vacationing in Alaska I always love visiting with your grandma and grandpa. They are great people! So just remember when things get tough, you have a gorgeous little boy, a wonderful family, and that’s really all that matters! Take care and I will be watching next Tuesday.

    • Piscean Gal

      Christy, if they would stop prostituting themselves, putting themselves out there in the “limelight” for that almighty dollar, then people probably WOULD leave them alone. There would be NOTHING to say, everyone could “speculate” of course, but since there would be “nothing out there” who cares. Why complain about wanting to be left alone, and why why why, yet continue to put yourself out there, on display!? Makes no sense, not even COMMON sense! If she is so concerned about her son’s well being, she should really think about that. Get out of the lime light, and get a REAL JOB. If she REALLY wanted to know what it’s like to be an “unwed (teen) mom”, stop complaining about how “hard” her life is, and pay attention to those mom’s who actually talk the talk and walk the walk, who are actually living in the trenches of single parenting, who DO NOT have the financial backing and support of their family as she apparently seems to have, although Willow seems to take issue with her at times, or is that just for show? Things that make you go HMMMM…

  • bellagrazi

    Bristol, you have not failed as a mother to Tripp. Levi has failed as a father. His failure is not yours. You’re an exceptional mom. The proof is in your son. He’s smart, well-adjusted, well-rounded and loves his mommy with all his heart. Not to mention, gorgeous with tons of personality. My favorite scene in Episode 3 was Tripp mugging for the cameras. That boy is a star! I also loved watching you shoot Levi’s book to shreds. That’s about what it’s worth. Bristol, keep walking on God’s path and you will do just fine.

  • wendy

    Imagine that someone says bad things about your parent in public and you fly to you fly to your parent’s defense. Didn’t that feel good? Now imagine that someone says bad things about your son’s parent in public and, oops, it’s you yourself doing it. Is that at all consistent? What part of the Golden Rule have you been practicing?
    King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
    Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

    • GrizzlyMom

      Exactly Wendy! All the people who are applauding Bristol defending her Mother from the jerk at the bar aren’t saying a word about her demeaning her son’s father. It either works all the time or it doesn’t.

      • Emma Lora

        I think you are confused… What I heard that was negative was about the negative lies Levi told in his book Also I saw an effort on her part to give him a chance at seeing their son. Her maturity in dealing with these negatives he put out there is impressive.

        • Fred

          Bristol wrote a book too. In fact she did it first. It was VERY harsh against Levi. It basically said he date-raped her on a camping trip. It’s a little hypocritical to blast him for writing a “memoir” when she also wrote a “memoir” before he did.

          Some day Tripp is going to grow up and read his mom’s book. How’s he going to like reading that he’s the result of a camping trip where his mom got drunk? Whether this is true or not, it is simply NOT good to bring all of this dirty laundry up in front of the child. That is the first rule any counselor will tell parents after a couple separates from one another.

          • Emma Lora

            Fred, I read her book too and she did not accuse him of date rape. In fact she went on the view and said she was not accusing him of that.
            Take note.. He does not pay child support … He does not use visitation time. He has fathered another child. And he lied in his book. Her negatives about Levi as you call it does not compare to “Your mom is a wh..re” or his nasty comment about Bristol in public. Your perspective says more about you than you know.

          • Lisa G

            Actually, she tried defending why she was dating Levi, despite the fact that he wasn’t a great catch, by his own admission. I read no harshness. It was more honest than his. He fabricated his entire dating past to appear like a respectable boyfriend, when he already came clean about cheating.

            NO girl I knew in high school wouldve dated Levi. Must be an Alaskan, outdoorsy thing.

        • GrizzlyMom

          Who cares what you think Emma Lora!

          • http://essexandorange1773.com Ray

            I care, GrizzlyMom. I care because Emma Lora is right. I will defend Bristol ALWAYS. And I will ALWAYS defend anyone who defends Bristol.

          • Fred

            She had to deny she said he date raped her on The View because her book basically says that.

            Whatever faults Levi has, it’s COMMON SENSE that you don’t disparage the other parent. It’s standard language in shared custody agreements for a good reason. And it’s in their custody agreement! Bristol is violating that agreement on her show! You must put the child first even if it really feels good for Bristol and Willow to put down Levi. It’s immature and unnecessary.

            BTW, Levi did not call his mom a whore. That was some guy in a bar that has nothing to do with this. Except that Bristol decided it made good TV to show that incident.

          • Patriot

            Ray you sound unstable.

          • Emma Lora

            Some care… some don’t… that is Ok with me. Hope you have a better day tomorrow. Perhaps you can find a show that suits your personality, Grissley.

    • Piscean Gal

      Exactly, Wendy, I just read something TWICE today that fits in here fairly well. I read, ” Every Father should remember that one day his son will follow his example instead of his advice.” Granted, Bristol is not a “father” but I think the phrase fits.

  • Jose

    I really liked what you wrote! You are a good mom!

  • Gary Ernsthausen

    Hey Bristol, here are some farmers going to Fox News in NYC, watch their video—-http://t.co/c9zOjX6n they are getting many reviews!

  • David Dempsey

    This is a really good post, Bristol. Tripp’s Dad is probably doing everything that he does just for the money. — The Palin Haters are probably paying him to say and write things to make you and your Mother look bad. They probably started talking to Tripp’s Dad not long after they had decided to try to ruin your Mother’s life with their lies and fabrications. That is just the way Left-Wing Politics works. But now you have more than one place where you can respond to things that are said about you that you do not like. That’s Good.

    • Fred

      Yes, Levi is just into it for the money. The Palins are much bigger than that. Sarah could have had a book deal and a TV show which would have made her millions. Did she take those offers? NO! She had a duty to serve out her term as the governor of Alaska and she did so. I’ve heard that she donates all of her profits from her FOX News interviews to charity and that she doesn’t take a dime of her SarahPAC money for any personal uses such as travel or hotel stays.

      Bristol has the same integrity. She’s donated the money from her book sales and her Dancing With the Stars showing to charity. She works hard in the day, every day at the doctor’s office. On top of that she goes all the way to California to help the poor people of South Central. You can see from the show that she has worked her butt off at that charity. I’m sure she only keeps what she makes from Life’s a Tripp to make sure that Tripp is taken care of.

      Levi is off living in mansions and building homes for himself in Wasilla. He’s jet setting back and forth to exotic places while Bristol is just your average Alaska girl that wants nothing to do with the Hollywood life style.

      • Sue

        Is there something wrong with making money? There is however something wrong with making money by selling out and lying about people. (example: see Levi Johnston)

        • Patriot

          Then they should stop wanting the public to feel sorry for them and enjoy their money.

      • Lisa G

        What are you talking about? Bristol’s had a normal job for years. Just because she takes other opportunities doesn’t make her a bad person. Levi ONLY had Hollywood and living off the Palin name as a “career”. He made money from trashy interviews and is not respected because of it.

      • Tim

        Fred is green with envy; like most Palin haters.

    • Piscean Gal

      David writes: “This is a really good post, Bristol. Tripp’s Dad is probably doing everything that he does just for the money. — The Palin Haters are probably paying him to say and write things to make you and your Mother look bad. They probably started talking to Tripp’s Dad not long after they had decided to try to ruin your Mother’s life with their lies and fabrications. That is just the way Left-Wing Politics works. But now you have more than one place where you can respond to things that are said about you that you do not like. That’s Good.”
      ——————————————–
      OH right, I forgot, Bristol or Sarah don’t do ANYTHING they do for money…SMH, are you KIDDING!? EVERYTHING they do has a PRICE tag on it, David. Bristol complains about the “lame stream media” but she’s right in the middle of it, “prostituting” herself for that ALMIGHTY DOLLAR, just like her mother, and now it seems, like her Father.

  • louiseharas

    Bristol, you are absolutely right. Teaching Tripp to stick his tongue out at strangers really says family values. I guess you will appreciate it when people see you and stick their tongue out at you. Call it the Palin Salute.

    • GrizzlyMom

      LOL!

    • Piscean Gal

      LMAO louiseharas! Funny how that works, huh? Yet she gets mad and confrontational with the man in the bar…Does she not realize, that EVERYTHING she does will at one point in time, be available to Tripp to see when he gets of age to understand, fully? I guess not, it’s all fun and games right now, and making her money, so what the heck…

  • Joy

    What broke my heart was when you actually told Tripp that his dad was coming to see him when you weren’t sure he was. You hadn’t heard back from him, so there was no confirmation he’d be there. The banter in the vehicle on the way there re: who he was going to play with further set him up for disappointment. When Levi didn’t show (big surprise) and you guys were leaving, Tripp said, “I never want to come back here.” The child should be kept out of the parents problems, as they are innocent. Even if he only sees him sporadically, there should be a picture of “daddy,” and only positive things should be spoken about him in front of Tripp.

  • section9

    Bristol, your show is totally awesome! The power of our saviour is working through you, for sure!! I love your family sooooo much. Although, I wish I was in Gino’s spot, hehehe! I think you are the most beautiful woman in the world and I would be so honored to date you. Let me know if it doesn’t work out with Gino! I loved your book so much, I bought 8 copies. One for each of my sisters and one for my mother. I kept 2 for myself. I wish your mother had run this year, she would be so far in the lead over obummer hussein right now. She warned us about death panels and now it looks like they are coming. The kenyan muslim dictator is ruining our country! And he wasn’t even born here and he is President. You know that the reason why is that 95 percent of the blacks voted for him and probably ALL of those homosexuals.

    Anyway, I lovvvvveeeee you Bristol, hopefully someday we’ll meet, and maybe you’ll really like me and we can date. Forever yours, section9. XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

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