The hypocrisy of Governor Sarah Palin’s whining critics is truly stunning. The most outrageous attacks have been those who express “concern” about whether she will have time to be both a mother and vice-president – this charge coming, of course from those who routinely bundle their kids off to day-care as infants.

Since large families have become exotic and unusual in our culture, I am going to disclose to the world a little inside secret known only to those richly blessed parents who have more than three children.

Here it is: Caring for the fourth and the fifth child is much easier than caring for the first one, two, or three.

I know this sounds paradoxical, but it’s true, for the simple reason that a large family is a community of care and love. When the fourth and the fifth child arrive, the first three contribute their love to the equation as well.

Did you watch how the Palins’ older children (especially, and endearingly, Piper), helped to take care of their younger brother, Trig?

Sarah and Todd are obviously terrific parents, and they obviously love their children very much.

The larger family is going to be a tremendous asset to Bristol and Levi as well when their blessing arrives early in 2009. The first grandchild will start out with two aunts and two uncles on his Palin side. Levi Johnston has a sister, so add another aunt on dad’s side. They will benefit immensely from being part of a large family.

In the interests of full disclosure, my much younger trophy wife and I have eleven children, and two grand-children – so far. We are richly blessed. Our children are richly blessed. They love each other, look out for each other, and care for each other. Nothing makes dad’s heart swell with pride quite so much as to watch the kids helping each other – from changing a diaper to helping each other with homework.

I have no doubt that the Palin family is much like ours. They obviously love each other. I think they’re going to be fine.

I look forward to watching them celebrate when mom is elected vice-president in November and I look forward to watching them embark on the adventure of four (or more) years in Washington, DC.

– Rob Shearer (aka RedHatRob)