I began drinking at age 15.  My mom was an alcoholic and would buy booze for me and my friends to have parties at our house while my dad was at work. I wasn't drinking every day -- just at parties.  I graduated high school and went to work at a bank, where I was a responsible employee and I got promoted.

I mixed it up on the weekends with the wrong crowd. I often didn't remember what had happened the night before.  I awoke one morning to realize I was miserable and didn't like my job, the stress from my mom's drinking, and from feeling ill A LOT. I took charge!

My dad has always been my hero. He loved his job as a firefighter, so I enrolled in EMT school, loved it, got a job on an ambulance and continued schooling to become a paramedic. I then put myself through a fire academy. I started that journey at age 25 and became a paramedic at age 27 and a firefighter at age 30. I worked as a paramedic for 10 years and firefighter for 5 years.

I retired because I met the man of my dreams and now am happily married with 3 children. I love being a wife and stay-at-home mom; no job is more rewarding. I believe one thing that helped me too, was your book "10 Stupid Things Women Do to Mess Up Their Lives."  I think I did almost all of them and it took awhile for me to admit you were right.  Hoping I can keep my kids from making the mistakes I did.

Tammy