February 24, 2017
Why Should My Kids Pay For My Irresponsibility?


Dr. Laura:

I've been married for 11 years, and I was a stay-at-home mom to two boys, ages 2 and 4.  Then I decided to go back to work to pay off credit card debt.  Working as a chef, I woke up at 4:30am and quietly dressed my boys for the day.  Watching them sleep as I dressed them, my heart slowly broke into pieces.  I knew what I was doing was wrong, but I took them to daycare and waiting until the workers arrived.  There was always a pit in my stomach every time I drove away.

As I cooked at work all day, that pit would occasionally resurface until the day's end.  Then I would drive as fast as possible to get my kids back, then repeat that cycle, day after day for a year.  That's when I decided that paying off my credit card debt could wait.  Why should my children have to pay the price for MY financial irresponsibility?

I quit that job.  We moved to Rome, Italy last year to be closer to my sister-in-law and my very ill mother-in-law.  I'm proud to say I'm once again a stay at home mom to my boys who are now 4 and 6.  All is good again in my soul, although those pangs still return to the pit of my stomach every time I think back to that year I let them down.  Thank you for all you do for stay-at-home moms.  I'll continue to listen to you from Italy by subscribing to your podcast.

Clarissa



Posted by Staff at 10:59 AM