I need to thank you and brag about my boyfriend - he's actually my husband of 7 years. He carries me to bed if I fall asleep on the couch, takes out the trash, and still makes me mixed tapes. He's the unscuzziest, hardest working, most loving man I could have ever been blessed with - and he just got better!
When we started dating 12 years ago, he introduced me to you. Although I'm an avid listener now and it seems as though every sentence I say starts with, "Dr. Laura would say ...", as a 17 year old, I did not like what I was hearing from you on the radio. What's this "stay-at-home mom nonsense"? "What do you mean we shouldn't move in together before we're married? How else do we know if the marriage will work or not?" Various other questions along those lines were streaming out of my mouth every time we listened to your program. Well, he held fast in his commitment to following your words and to make you proud and impressed for a then 20-year-old boy.
We got married at 21 and 24, much younger than you recommend, and I realize why now, but we did wait to move in with each other until after marriage. We've had our major ups and downs like any relationship, but your words coached us through. One thing that we've always been good at is cuddling. We're still all over each other like teenagers. It's pretty amazing and so cute - if anyone was watching they'd most likely be sick.
One thing that has always bothered me though is that he's not so affectionate in public - he doesn't initiate hand holding. I've never nagged about it; I just grab his hand, get in my hand holding fix and move on. Well, now at 5 months pregnant with our first child, with new "cankles" and some veins protruding in places that will be embarrassing when I'm in a bathing suit, I need all the affection I can get. We were walking along the sidewalk the other day and I mentioned to him, "I was listening to Dr. Laura and she said whenever she sees a couple holding hands in public she stares because she thinks it's so special and cute". In his continuing desires to make you proud, he grabbed my hand - it feels like he hasn't let go since.
He also recently went out and bought "Bad Childhood, Good Life" for my sister who is now 17. She can't put it down and that warms my heart.
So, that's it. I just needed to let you know that there is a man out there working hard and listening to your every word. He's a real man and I cannot wait for him to show our daughter what an amazing husband looks like, and of course, to watch him hold her hand. Thank you for what you do and thank you for creating a man I not only love, but I really, really like.
Breesa
