Dr. Laura:
I've been a stay-at-home mother for 17 years. I have three degrees - two undergraduate, and one MBA, but my most important job has just been "Mom." These days, it seems that once kids are of school age, many mothers think they need to "seize the moment" and get back into the workforce, but I've found that even though kids are in school full time, a mother's role doesn't end. In fact, it just increases!
Though I often now refer to myself as a "stay-in-the-car mom" driving them everywhere, the kids know what to expect from me. "Mom" is always at home attending to the household, the milk is never sour, and family meals are prepared most nights when we eat together at the table - even if it's just spaghetti or tacos. It might seem kind of "June Cleaver-ish" to some, but the kids are well-adjusted, good students, and pretty drama-free. Sure, we have typical teenage growing pains, but no parent can survive the teen years without the kids testing the waters.
It's not easy to be a stay-at-home parent. I've been a source of stability our family has needed. My husband frequently travels for his job, and we have no local family support, so there's no "backup" childcare. But I haven't regretted the decision to stay home - not even once.
Thank you for lending moms at home a little pat on the back and reaffirming our important role as mothers. My best wishes to you, especially as Mother's Day approaches.
A new listener,
Jennifer
