Listening to Myself
Read on the Tuesday, June 30th radio program.
I was a stay-at-home mom to two boys. My husband was a Major in the Army, and for obvious reasons, I often had to raise our boys on my own. When my oldest son was four years old, my husband was deployed to Iraq, and my youngest was just a baby.
During that time, I received a lot of pressure from my husband’s mother, grandmother, and even my brother-in-law’s wife. They all told me that my four-year-old should start “school” so he could learn how to interact with children his own age. Deep down, I knew I was doing the right thing by keeping him home until he was truly ready for school.
Eventually, I gave in to the pressure and enrolled him in a private preschool. He was only there for half a day, but I kept feeling that he should be at home, spending that precious time with his baby brother and me. After a few months, I put the baby in his car seat, drove to the preschool, and withdrew my son for good.
He was so happy to be back at home, and I felt confident that I had made the right decision. You gave me the strength to go against what others believed was best. As it turns out, I was absolutely right.
Today, my boys are grown men who are socially comfortable, outgoing, and confident. They were always among the most self-assured children I knew, especially compared to many kids who spent less time at home during their formative years.
You were—and still are—completely correct when you say that children should be with a loving mother rather than with someone who is being paid and cannot possibly love them in the same way all day long.
I was incredibly fortunate with both of my boys. They are now young adults who are doing very well, and they remain extremely close. They don’t live in the same state, but they talk almost every single day. Their bond has remained strong throughout their lives, and I have you to thank for the advice I heard you give so often.
~ Name Withheld
📧 Have a comment or story to share? Email: drlaura@drlaura.com
☎️ Got a dilemma? Call 1.800.375.2872 or Make An Appointment to speak with me on the radio program!