My seven-year-old son woke up sick the other day, and it was one of the most memorable days in our home. Why? Because we weren’t scrambling to find someone to care for him, because I’m the one who cares for him. When I was pregnant and about to quit my job, they allowed me to work part-time from home. Because my husband is a nurse, we were always the primary caregivers to our son, and we kept him out of day care. Staying home was not a sacrifice; it was an investment!
So, when he got sick, it was no problem to keep him home from school. I cuddled with him until his fever went down. We read books, took a walk, and played lots of Legos. We were calm and peaceful and he rested up and went back to school three days later when the fever was gone. When my neighbors’ kids get sick, I’ve seen them send the kids to school until a grandparent can arrive the next day to care for their kids. They complain and stress over the missed hours at work, and wasted vacation days spent staying home with their kids.
During COVID, I lost my part-time at-home job, so when the schools re-opened, I chose to substitute teach at my son’s school. I’m in the building with him many days a week. As a sub, I don’t have to work every day, so I have plenty of time to make our house a home. When friends ask me how we make it without my salary now, I tell them this is our season to invest, and the payout will be bigger down the road. Thanks, Dr. Laura, for the great “investment” advice!
Mollie
You Gave Me Great Investment Advice
