Written by Sandie on my Instagram page

I felt so ashamed for wanting to be home, raise a family, and take care of everybody emotionally. I knew I wanted this at six to seven years old. My family pushed education. My brothers became doctors. I did go to college but never partied. It was a Christian college. I met a young man. We dated four years, talked marriage but never did. We broke up. I worked at a medical clinic and met my husband. He was from a military family. His mom never worked outside the home, and that’s what he wanted for his family.

We married. I kept working until our second child was born. My mom was a workaholic in the 60s when I was growing up, so I knew what a working mom did to her child’s psyche. It’s awful, and you feel so alone and abandoned early on. I had a loving daycare mom but nothing compares to your real mom. I can’t imagine daycare centers these days.

I have three nieces and nephews who grew up in daycare as their parents were both doctors. All three are now are mentally ill with borderline personality disorder, and they hate their parents. They had everything in life: huge house, a swimming pool, lavish vacations. My husband and I had so much less. We were the poorest in our family. All of our siblings were all working, and their children were in daycare. I was looked down upon and deemed lazy, but I knew in my heart what I wanted. And I worked my heart out taking care of my family. I knew my daughters, and we were connected emotionally.

Was it easy? No. My husband had undiagnosed bipolar, but the joy inside for my family helped me with the pain of his illness. He also worked hard to provide, and he was loyal. So much life but we are still together, So much life but we are still together. I’m 66 and he’s 67. Our daughters live close by with their husbands, and we have four grandchildren. Are we rich retirees? No, but we are rich in so many ways that money can’t buy. And another great thing about being home is you have freedom to take care of your aging parents. It’s the circle of life.

Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
Psalm 128:3