I am a 31-year-old mom of two small boys, aged 3 and 7 months.  I'm also a nurse.  I struggled giving up a career I loved, especially on the hard days when I was drowning in dirty diapers, vomit and toys strewn all over.  It's also been hard because of pressure from friends and other family to go back to work.

The other day, I was cooking and doing chores while my littlest was napping and my oldest came up to me and hugged my leg.  I kneeled down and hugged him really quick.  Suddenly, he grabbed my neck and started singing to me: "You love me a lot, you hug me a lot, you kiss me a lot, you hold me a lot...."  In that moment, I was brought to tears and was reminded how important the work I was doing by being at home with him truly was.  Who else could love him like that all day, every day?  Even though I didn't think he noticed, he proved to me he understood even at three years old how much he was loved because mommy is home. 

Thank you for reminding me day in and day out how important being a mommy really is.  When the world tells me one thing, I have you whispering in my ear, and I'm so thankful I followed your advice.

Bethany