Hi Dr. Laura,
Many years ago I stayed home with my three children and parented them exclusively for ten years. I loved every minute of it. However, when they all went to elementary school, I started to think I needed a job.
I want something "for me". I want to get paid and told I am doing something well by a boss. Mostly, I want to feel productive. I found a wonderful job where I got paid to visit first time parents and teach them how to play with their babies, nurture and care for their babies and all aspects of healthy parenting. I would give these families 8 hours of my time during the day and would come home exhausted with my own family. In addition, my youngest son started falling apart. He was acting out, in a cry for help.
Around that time I was listening to you on the radio as I was driving on my way to visit my "other families". You weighted heavy on my heart. Your words hurt and I knew I needed to make a change. After much personal debate, I told my husband I was quitting my job and going back to be here for MY family again. This was the best decision I could ever had made. I started volunteering in the school, my summers were now free again to create fun memories with my children. Mostly, I was home to supervise my children after school. Well, the problems stopped and my son turned himself around it took a while he is healthy, happy and stable now.
Thank you for being the person who spoke to my heart when I needed it. It's like the ol' saying goes:
"When I lay on my death bed, I won't look back thinking about my employment, how I should have worked more. I'll be thankful for all the times I was with my family. Enjoying every minute."
Thanks again,
Jess
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