Dr. Laura:
Recently, my six-year-old son was upset, because I punished him for misbehaving. I heard him say under his breath "I am so horrible." This shocked me, scared me, and shook me to the core. I asked him why he would say that, and he responded: "because I never do anything right!"
Immediately, I saw what I had done. I have been too stressed with work - always trying to stay a day ahead of everything. I only work while he is at school in first grade, but when he is home, I'm too preoccupied with thinking about work that I fail to listen or even talk to my son. I make twice the money my husband does, and I always used my flexible schedule, weekly housekeeper and waking up at 4 AM to address daily chores as an excuse to keep working. NO MORE! I will not have my child believe he is horrible because his parents are too busy to listen to him, work with him or play with him.
I quit the job this morning, first thing. And I told my son before he went to school that, from now on, my job would be the most IMPORTANT job - being his MOM. I don't think he quite understood, but I am done with work, and I plan to spend the rest of my time with him.
Kara
