Dear Dr. Laura:
When I was dating, I used to mention my hopes of being a stay-at-home mom one day. Well, that sent my dates running, because they often assumed I was a lazy gold-digger who just wanted a free ride and to not have to work. It was so disheartening, I wondered if I would ever find a real man who saw the value in it.
It wasn't until my 30s that I finally found him. We married and now have two children. He works hard to support our family so I can stay home. Yes, we've had to pick and choose wisely what we spend our money on, but it's so worth it. I get to watch my children's first milestones and laugh and play with them all day long. To earn some extra "mommy" spending money, I make sparkly jewelry while they are napping, and I sell it on Etsy. It's fun and allows me to feel creative. It's also a great way to meditate and de-stress when the long days get hard.
I'm so glad I found YOU 15 years ago because you helped me realize how important it was to find a real man who valued his wife raising their kids. If I could give any advice to your listeners, it would be to not waste their time dating "boys," and to keep looking for a MAN. He's out there, I promise! If your dream is to stay home one day, make a point for that to be #1 in your dating requirements. Bring it up early in conversations. After all, the best career of all is being a mommy!
Love,
Cristina
