February 22, 2013
Professional Mommy
Dr. Laura,

As a traveling salesperson, I spent many hours listening to you on the radio as well as through your podcast. When I renewed my membership, you sent me a DVD of "In Praise of Stay at Home Moms". Since I was not a mother, I put the DVD in my laptop travel case and completely forgot about it.

Before my husband and I were married, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which came as a complete shock because of his young age. The doctors told us that we should "bank" some baby makers because we would never conceive naturally after the radiation treatment.

My husband and I were both consumed with our careers. The talk about when to have children started creeping into our conversations. He suggested I stop taking birth control and we will "just see what happens".  Both of us, however, could hear the doctor's words in the back of our minds. We didn't believe it would happen and really didn't have our lives pointed in a direction for it to happen. In fact, I started a new job that I was super excited about and planned to get back on birth control right after my next menstrual cycle........which never came.

I bought a pregnancy test and didn't even take it until I checked into the hotel late that evening. It was positive. I would be lying if I said the feminist talk wasn't racing through my brain.  Needless to say, I wasn't exactly excited. I was in so much denial that I took two more pregnancy tests. I even purchased the digital brand just in case I was reading the instructions wrong or perhaps I had bought a "bad batch" of testers. After all ten came back positive, I let the news sink in. Then I remembered the DVD I had tucked in my laptop case. I pulled it out and watched. By the end of the DVD, the feminist in my brain had left.  I WAS GOING TO BE A MOMMY!. The thoughts of the job, the boss, and the salary completely left my brain.

I am now 32 weeks pregnant with a baby boy. I let my boss know last week that I wouldn't need maternity leave, as I would not be returning.

My customers seem shocked when I tell them that I will not be back. They say, "I thought of you as a professional!" I just tell that I am: a professional Mommy. My friends tell me that there is no way I will be able to handle staying at home, and my mother-in-law brags that she was back to work one week after giving birth.

I couldn't be happier about my decision; a decision that you helped me make. I could tell you a million stories about how I have used and shared your advice, but I feel that this decision will truly shape and define my new family life.

With deep gratitude and great respect,

Erin

Posted by Staff at 11:02 AM