Dr. Laura,

I am a military spouse and mother of three. I was the first female in a large family to graduate from college, which I paid for myself. 19 years ago when my husband and I gave birth to our oldest, I fully intended to return to work. After all, I had worked HARD to get that college degree and job. But when my six weeks maternity leave was up I could not bear the thought of my baby girl spending her days with somebody else. So, I decided that I would not return to work. 

When I made this decision, I did not get the support I expected. People thought I was crazy to give up a good paying job, and wondering how my family going to survive on a military paycheck, I questioned myself and my value, wondering if my greatest asset to my family was my paycheck. Then one day driving across Indiana I found you. You gave me a voice and you helped me be confident and proud in my decision to be the primary influence in my child's life. It was certainly not always easy, and we made sacrifices. As they transitioned into school I found jobs that allowed me to take my kids to school in the morning and to pick them up in the afternoon and to attend all their games and events.
 
My husband and I are now very proud parents of three young adults, 19, 17 and 16! I hear on a daily basis what kind-hearted, smart, accomplished, loving children we have. People say I am lucky, but I tell them I am not lucky; it is not an accident. It is because we made the right decision all those years ago. We decided what had value and it wasn't the material things -- it was each other. 

Thank you Dr. Laura.  I count you as one of our greatest blessings.

Bree