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10/29/2014
Hi Dr. Laura,
Many years ago, I stayed home with my three children and parented them exclusively for ten years. I loved every minute of it. However, when they all went to elementary school, I started to think I needed a job. I wanted something "for me". I wanted to get paid and told I was doing something well by a boss. Mostly, I wanted to feel productive.
I found a wonderful job where I got paid to visit first-time parents and teach them how to play with their babies, nurture and care for their babies, and all aspects of healthy parenting. I would give these families 8 hours of my time during the day and would come home exhausted with my own family. In addition, my youngest son started falling apart. He got in trouble at school and after school when left unsupervised with his older siblings, went next door and took something from the neighbor. Lastly, he carved a symbol on my husband's truck; an obvious cry for help.
Around that time I was listening to you on the radio as I was driving on my way to visit my "other families". You weighed heavy on my heart. Your words hurt and I knew I needed to make a change. After much personal debate, I told my husband I was quitting my job and going back to be there for MY family again. This was the best decision I could ever had made. I started volunteering in the school, my summers were now free again to create fun memories with my children. Mostly, I was home to supervise my children after school. The problems stopped and my son turned himself around. It took a while, but he is healthy, happy and stable now. Thank you for being the person who spoke to my heart when I needed it. It's like the ol' saying goes: when I lay on my death bed, I won't look back thinking about my employment, how I should have worked more. I'll be thankful for all the times I was with my family. Enjoying every minute of it!
Thanks again,
Valerie
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