Hello Dr. Laura,
I contacted your program via email about 8 months ago in regard to my 19-year-old daughter wanting to move to Hawaii to join a farming program. You had called me and said for me to be proud of myself, for raising an independent daughter and let her go fulfill her dreams. To support her wishes to explore this big world she lives in. I had a very hard time emotionally letting her go do this but I kept telling myself what you had said in my mind over and over until I found peace with her going. I now want to let you know how well she is doing.
She bought a car, she works very hard and she absolutely loves it there. She currently works at a bed and breakfast near Kona on a farm in exchange for her food and housing. She also gets paid a small wage for her duties there. She has a 35 hour a week job in a Vegan Restaurant, which she also enjoys.
I am so happy to say that at the end of this month my husband and I are going there for 10 days to spend some much needed quality time with her as I have missed her so very much. She will be turning 20 while we are there. I am so proud of her and the personal strength she has shown me in spreading her wings and maturing into a beautiful Island Girl.
Thank you for the advice on looking at her decision as a job well done by her father and me, in raising her to be a self-sufficient adult. You said we should pat ourselves on the back and be so happy in her decision to go. It was those kind words that make me look at this whole experience in a new light. We are very proud parents and my daughter has amazed us with showing us she can make it anywhere she wants to live with her dedication to succeed and explore the many opportunities life has to offer her. I will be sending you a postcard from Hawaii in the very near future.
Thank you Dr. Laura
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