Dr. Laura,
I am writing this while wiping the tears of joy from my eyes. My step daughter (who I love so much I would swim through shark infested waters to bring her a lemon aid) is a very high level executive at a major U.S. bank. She has been on the fast track and when she informed them she was pregnant they offered her a 3 month maternity leave, with pay, and a big bonus when she returned.
I flew back east the week she was to start back to work to take care of our beautiful baby boy so she wouldn't have to put him in the "Baby Farm" her first week back. The night before she was supposed to return to work she was awake all night long crying. How can mommies imagine that it's going to be o.k. to leave their new babies in somebody else's arms, even a trusted and loved family member? (That would be me). This Mommy did a 360 when her baby was put in her arms for the first time. She is a Mommy first and foremost now but the financial challenges facing all new families had her leaning towards staying at work. She married a real man and he stepped up to the plate and told her he would make it work if she wanted to stay home.
She was still on the fence so I took matters into my own hands and I sent her In Praise of Stay at Home Moms. She called me this afternoon to tell me she had not finished the book, but she has decided to give her two week notice next week.
Thank you, Dr. Laura. Together we saved another Mommy from missing out on the magic of raising her own baby.
With much appreciation for all you do,
Heather
