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08/21/2018
Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for drawing a hard line on the importance of staying home and raising your children. When my husband and I were dating, we talked openly about my desire to be a stay-at-home mom someday, and he agreed. We spent the early years of our marriage saving money and planning financially for the time when we would start our family so that we knew we'd be able to live on one income.
When my son was born four years ago, I left my career as an engineer to become a full-time stay-at-home mom. I took a lot of flak from family and friends who thought I was crazy and throwing away my Master's degree and career. They couldn't understand why we would choose to live on just my husband's small income or how I could leave behind my career without a second glance. I disregarded all of them because I knew that the best thing for my son and now also my daughter was to be home with them each day, teaching them the morals and ideas that are important to us as a family, and just being there with them and for them.
Recently, an old colleague contacted me about doing some consulting engineering work. I could do it part-time, during naptime and after the kids are in bed. My work now has no impact on my kids, and they know they will continue to be my top priority. I know too many women think they have no choice but to send their kids to daycare. I'm here to say it CAN be done with careful planning and budgeting if you really want to make it your priority.
Sarah
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