The former Alaska governor and ‘08 vice-presidential candidate, Sarah Palin’s new book, Going Rogue and subsequent media tour has been all the rage lately. Alas, there’s another underlying story here.

You can guess where I’m going with this one, can’t ya’? Palin dishes about her daughter Bristol’s unexpected pregnancy. Palin told Walters they were devastated when they found out she was pregnant. Although Palin and the baby papa, Levi Johnston (soon-to-be Playgirl model), have had a war of words in the media, the thing about Palin is she has certainly been able to keep her cool when it comes to the fam’.

Like her or not, the veep candidate was apparently very candid with Barbara Walters about her public life and political aspirations. While she mentioned the shock related to not even being aware that Bristol was having sex, she seems to have handled this piece well in the spotlight.

Could you imagine being in the public eye like that while juggling issues like this? Instead of dodging questions about it, I give her props for taking it head on and being truthful. She certainly set a high standard for her kids as her 15 year-old daughter, Willow, told Walters it would “be cool” to see her mom become president some day.

What do you think? Do you think Sarah Palin could have handled the parenting situation differently while on the campaign trail?
[Photo: AP]

In honor of The Cute Kid’s Halloween photo contest extension to 11/19/09 (get with it — you can win $500), here’s one more fun, albeit a little sad Halloween post…

If you were like most Americans, you watched the news reports with shock and disbelief. Could a homemade balloon really have taken off with a six-year-old on board? And then, of course, came the real news story. The hoax!

As the horrific saga began unraveling, one can’t help but look toward the parents with a huge sense of shame. “Tsk, tsk, tsk!” Are you really that desperate to get on TV? Why would you want a reality TV show to dish about the bizarre details and unethical ways you raise your sons? That’s right, boys, let’s lie to the authorities. Oh, and while you’re at it, curse a little as well and we’ll post that video on YouTube. Sheesh!

Words cannot express my outrage toward the irresponsible Heene’s. But… as you can imagine, at least there’s a sense of humor to it all. That’s right… I’m talkin’ about what proved to be a popular costume this past Halloween season. In addition to Bernie Madoff costume for adults, the buzz here in Manhattan was a Balloon Boy Halloween get-up for kids! Some kids went dressed in a little box (as in, let’s pretend to hide in the attic the entire time concerned public officials are trying to track me down and ensure I’m alive). Others walked around with a basket around their waist.

All we know is this: the more creative they were, the better. Which brings me to a reminder to enter the CuteKid Halloween Contest no matter what your kid’s costume. Check it: It’s free and the grand prize is $500: http://www.thecutekid.com/halloween2009/

Since Halloween is my all-time fave holiday ever (behind my birthday, of course), I simply must ask: What did your kids dress up as?

RadarOnline.com

As much as I adore New York City, when you combine it with my favorite holiday, Halloween (yes, that’s right, Halloween!) you have one spooktacular night in full effect! Imagine, however, being an actor. You get paid big bucks to dress in costume and assume someone else’s persona day after day!

And when you’re an A-lister like Brad Pitt and have six children, well, dressing up on Halloween is simply a no-brainer. That’s right: the father of six kids, along with partner Angelina Jolie, went trick-or-treating old-style. They went to a residential neighborhood near the Hollywood Hills and were not to be missed!

That’s ’cause he wore a high-octane orange jumpsuit and put beads in his beard in order to impersonate DJ Lance Rock. The DJ is the host of Nick, Jr.’s show, Yo Gabba Gabba!

If imitation is the highest form of flattery, DJ Lance Rock couldn’t have been more thrilled. He told UsMagazine.com, “Brad Pitt looked AWESOME in my costume!” He also invited the Jolie-Pitts to hang in his ‘hood. “If he, Angelina and the kids want to come hang out in Gabba land, they’re welcome anytime!”

Nevertheless, Halloween always seems to be a festive time of year. As fun as it was to see the Pittster in costume, did you have a fave celebrity costume this year? Perhaps someone you know actually dressed up as Jolie or Pitt?

WireImage.com

Whether you like them or not, Jessica Simpson and Ashlee Simpson-Wentz are in the public eye for singing and, yes, acting. Here’s the neat thing about paparazzi parenting. Remember when Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton proclaimed a long time ago that it takes a village to raise a child? Well, in Hollywood I’d like to think that pap parenting isn’t only limited to parenting. There are siblings, the extended family, and even the people you grew up with who were always like your aunt and uncle (even though they weren’t technically blood-related).

Kudos to Jessica Simpson for sticking up for her sis! When you’re in your twenties it’s not like your parents are gonna come to the rescue 24/7 (nor should they!) so you gotta be the big sis and speak your mind. You may not know this or may not even watch it, but her sis, Ashlee Simpson-Wentz was recently cut from the revival of Melrose Place on the CW.

Although Ashlee did the professional thing and issued a statement essentially saying she was grateful for the opportunity, yada yada, her sister did the opposite. That’s right, she hit up Twitter!

On Sunday night Jessica tweeted, “Who writes this crap? i have had bad scripts to work with, but this? thank God my sister is amazing and got you some press.” Although Jess’s rep did not respond for comments on her behalf, I give her props for speaking her mind and sticking up for her sister. If she doesn’t do it, who will?

That said, do you think it crossed the line and was in bad taste or to heck with it! She has her sister’s back and that’s all that counts.

Photo by Vicki Salemi

Ah, Motherhood. As in the movie, not the actual thing. Even though the movie actually resembles the real thing. Okay, as a singlista in Manhattan I can’t honestly say that I could relate to the film but I do know this: every mama I spoke with said it resonated loud and clear.

As this film was released into theaters nationwide yesterday, I couldn’t help but wonder how the blogosphere of mom bloggers would write about the flick. In it, Uma Thurman plays a multi-tasking madre and mom blogger, Anthony Edwards is her hubby, and Minnie Driver is her friend. As an entertainment reporter, I had the fortunate task of attending press day interviews with the celebs! It’s a tough job but someone’s gotta do it. <grin>

What I found interesting about the flick is how Manhattan served as a character. Minnie was super-sweet and dished about how your location can really create additional challenges to being a mother. Sure, women in suburbia have challenges, of course, but in a city like Manhattan there are additional roadblocks. Like the movie shows, buying tons of party paraphernalia for your daughter’s six-year-old b-day bash crammed in a bike as you trek up your fifth-story walk-up in one full swoop.

Another theme of the movie is about your identity. In the flick, it’s clear that Uma was previously a writer in her BK (”before kids”) life. Along the way she loses her craft of writing fiction even though she manages to squeeze in time for quickie blog posts on her blog, The Bjorn Identity (yes, a total play on words from the stroller company). As such, a resonating theme of the flick is a contest she enters defining motherhood. I specifically asked Uma what motherhood means to her and she responded, “It’s the greatest love I’ve ever known. Love is it.”

So, faithful reader, I’ll ask you the same question. What does motherhood mean to you?