November 2, 2016
Now I Know What True Wealth Is

Dear Dr. Laura:

I'm 28, married, starting a family and until recently, I was completely lost.  Adopting my new identity as a mom, I thought I was losing everything else I worked so hard for.  Before marriage, I was inspired to pursue a career in teaching.  After staying home with our newborn baby boy for three months, I had a "now what" feeling.  Everything we ever hoped for was coming to fruition, but I still had a sense of longing to return to the work I had hardly had a chance to start.  Feelings of resentment toward the new and miraculous, yet demanding, phase in my life left me second-guessing all my choices.

Then I heard you mention your book "In Praise of Stay at Home Moms" on the air.  I bought it, and it turned my world around.  One of the lines that really spoke to me was: "In life, everything - everything - has good and bad elements."  I'm still learning the lesson that the "bad" should never be the end of the story, nor what guides your decisions, especially not where there also exists the "good" and the "unforgettable."  I decided right then and there that I want my "good and bad" elements to be with my son, not away from him, and that I wasn't going to let my "bad" experience of leaving my teaching dreams behind be a perceived end of my life, nor would I let it tarnish the good.

Now instead of feeling sorry for myself, I'm energized and excited for every future moment.  Thank you for showing me the TRUE wealth that exists when a woman commits herself to the loving work of a career as a stay-at-home mom.  If there are other "on the fence" women out there, please read this book!  I'm also back to being my husband's girlfriend again, and our marriage is just great.

Allie


Posted by Staff at 10:59 AM