Kids Don't Care What Their Address Is

Summary

Podcast Summary: Dr. Laura Call of the Day – “Kids Don't Care What Their Address Is”

Episode Release Date: March 29, 2025

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Introduction

In the March 29, 2025 episode of Dr. Laura Call of the Day, renowned host Dr. Laura Schlessinger engages with a listener named Andrea to discuss the challenging balance between career obligations and motherhood. The conversation delves deep into the emotional and ethical considerations of prioritizing family over professional endeavors, emphasizing the profound impact of parental presence on children's development.

Caller’s Background and Concerns

Andrea, a long-time listener of Dr. Laura’s program, reaches out seeking guidance after experiencing significant life changes over the past five to six years. At 39 years old, Andrea embraced motherhood and enjoyed a flexible job that allowed her to spend quality time with her two young children, aged five and three. However, unforeseen job changes led to a 10-month period where Andrea was fully home-based, an experience she describes as “the best 10 months of my life,” enabling her to be actively involved in her children’s upbringing without the distractions of work emails or office pressures.

Andrea shares her situation:

“[...] I was finally super hands on with them. I didn't have an email to take me away from being present with them.”
[01:23]

Transition and New Challenges

In December of the previous year, Andrea began seeking new employment opportunities while her husband accepted a position that necessitated their relocation from Texas to California. Initially optimistic about purchasing a home to establish stability in their new environment, Andrea encountered financial and professional obstacles. Her current job, although providing a decent income, demands extensive time in the office, severely limiting her ability to maintain the work-life balance she values.

Andrea expresses her dilemma:

“So we're at a position now where really [I'm] trying to decide do I continue to work until we can [...]”
[03:49]

Dr. Laura’s Insightful Guidance

Dr. Laura responds with candid and assertive counsel, emphasizing the irreplaceable role of a mother in a child’s life. She challenges the notion that financial stability and professional success should outweigh the essential emotional support and presence a parent provides.

Dr. Laura asserts:

“Do you really think that anybody can substitute for the love and responsiveness and attention and [...] warmth of a mother?”
[03:19]

Addressing Andrea’s concerns about securing a home and fearing future regrets, Dr. Laura underscores that children’s well-being and emotional health are far more critical than the physical aspects of their living situation.

Key Quote:

“Your kids don't care about their address. They don't care if it's a house, a condo, a rented guest cottage. They don't care.”
[08:32]

Emphasizing Parental Presence Over Materialism

The conversation highlights the importance of being present and engaged in children’s lives during their formative years. Dr. Laura emphasizes that children value love, attention, and support over material possessions or the prestige of their living arrangements.

Dr. Laura emphasizes:

“They want love and attention and warmth and support and fun.”
[08:44]

She further illustrates this point by reflecting on her early radio career, recounting a poignant call from a mother struggling to balance work and childcare, reinforcing the choice Andrea faces between professional obligations and maternal responsibilities.

Andrea’s Affirmation and Resolution

Andrea acknowledges Dr. Laura’s insights, recognizing the necessity of prioritizing her role as a mother over her career. She expresses a strong desire to avoid future regrets related to missing out on her children’s upbringing, choosing to remain present despite the financial and professional sacrifices involved.

Andrea concludes:

“[...] making that decision to let go of this role because [I] got to keep my priorities and I don't want to have regrets in 15 years thinking I was in the office.”
[10:40]

Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Dr. Laura commends Andrea for her courage and decision to prioritize her family, reinforcing the profound and lasting impact of her choice. She reiterates the importance of maternal presence and the invaluable role it plays in a child’s development, leaving Andrea with a sense of affirmation and support.

Dr. Laura concludes:

“There is no thought here. You married a man. His job is to provide and protect. Let him do it.”
[09:31]

Andrea’s decision serves as a powerful testament to the values Dr. Laura champions—ethics, accountability, and personal responsibility within the family unit.

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Notable Quotes:

• “Do you really think that anybody can substitute for the love and responsiveness and attention and [...] warmth of a mother?”
  – Dr. Laura Schlessinger [03:19]

• “Your kids don't care about their address. They don't care if it's a house, a condo, a rented guest cottage. They don't care.”
  – Dr. Laura Schlessinger [08:32]

• “They want love and attention and warmth and support and fun.”
  – Dr. Laura Schlessinger [08:44]

• “There is no thought here. You married a man. His job is to provide and protect. Let him do it.”
  – Dr. Laura Schlessinger [09:31]

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This episode of Dr. Laura Call of the Day offers profound insights into the sacrifices and decisions parents face in balancing career aspirations with the unquantifiable benefits of being present in their children's lives. Dr. Laura’s no-nonsense advice, grounded in strong ethical principles, provides invaluable guidance for parents navigating similar challenges.

Transcript

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[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Devices early ctmobile.com thanks for listening to my Call of the Day podcast. You can hear my live radio program Monday through Friday from 2 to 5pm Eastern Time on Sirius XM Triumph 111. Andrea welcome to the program.

[Caller]

Good morning Dr. Laura. Thank you so much for taking my call this morning.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

You're welcome.

[Caller]

I've been a long time listener. However, I have had some changes in the last five, six years with my routine and so I unfortunately haven't had the opportunity to listen to your advice and recently stumbled again upon your channel and I was like, oh, I could really use some guidance right now. So thank you again.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

We also have podcasts so you could listen to calls whenever.

[Caller]

Yeah, that's a good reminder. I need to keep that handy.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

What can I help you with?

[Caller]

Thank you. Well you know, in the last five years I became a mom. I'm 39 years old and at the time I had a job that provided me a lot of flexibility. I was home half the time, I was making decent living, etc. Unfortunately, my job had some changes where I was displaced for 10 months I was at home with my 5 year old and my 3 year old and I gotta say, they were the best 10 months of my life. I was finally super hands on with them. I didn't have an email to take me away from being present with them. However, in December of last year I was looking at openings and I just applied thinking nothing's going to come of it. Long story short, and at the time too, my husband and I were motivated to try to buy a home to get ourselves settled into the new new city that we had just we had recently moved from Texas to California and.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Wait, wait wait wait wait wait wait wait. Oh my God. How much do I have to scream to get you to stop you tell me that concerned about finances, you moved to California. What are you both smoking some funny dope in Texas?

[Caller]

No, the timing was. We were struck with not some great timing. We got transferred over my husband's job moved us to California before I was no longer.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

No, he accepted a job to move to California where whatever he was paid with our tax rate here, he made less. Probably take home. I can't believe anybody moved to California on purposes.

[Caller]

Okay, well, we're from California, so we have lots of family and friends. And this is the lifestyle that being in Texas, that was no way of living. I know, but we are happier here. That's no question about that.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Okay, well then don't complain about the money. And you're not. I was going to say it, but I won't. I'll let you say it. Go ahead.

[Caller]

So last year, as I said, I got a job. However, it's. It's a role that does not provide a lot of work life balance. I am in an office five days a week and so we're at a position now where really trying to decide do I continue to work until we can.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

No, of course not. You're a mother. Of course not. I mean, I don't even understand why this is even a thought. Do you really think that anybody can substitute for the love and responsiveness and attention and and warmth of a mother? And do you think that at the age of your children that doesn't matter? Curling up on the couch for a movie is one of my favorite ways to end the day. Lily's always right there with me. And we have a new addition to our movie nights. The fluffiest pretty rosewater pink Lola blanket. Lola blankets are unbelievably soft double sided faux fur blankets with a huggable stretch that molds to your body. Lola blankets come in a beautiful array of colors and three different sizes so you can find just the right fit for your family. They even offer weighted blankets for better sleep and relaxation. And super cute knotted faux fur pillows. With thousands of five star reviews, Lola blankets are the must have upgrade your home and comfort deserve. So go to LOL. Use my code Dr. Laura at checkout for 40% off. An incredible discount just for you my listener. What are you waiting for? Go to lola blankets.com today and experience the life changing softness for yourself.

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[Caller]

True. It's true. It's true. And I get mixed up thinking, okay, we ought to provide that forever home for our family. But again, your kids don't care where.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

What their address is. Your kids don't care about their address. They don't care if it's a house, a condo, a rented guest cottage. They don't care.

[Caller]

Okay, thank you.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Why do adults think kids care? They don't. They want love and attention and warmth and support and fun.

[Caller]

Yeah. Being present. And they grow up extremely fast in 5 years. I can't believe I already have a 5 year old.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

When you used to listen to the show, what percentage of people. This is rhetorical. Don't answer it. What percentage of people blamed their current state of mind on their early childhood? That's how important it is.

[Caller]

Yeah, that's a good point. Good reminder.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

I mean, if you were your kids age, do you want to be raised by a nanny, a daycare, a babysitter, or you as a mommy?

[Caller]

Yeah, me 100%.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Well, there you are then. There is no thought here. You married a man. His job is to provide and protect. Let him do it.

[Caller]

And he's extremely supportive. I'm the one that I'm like, well, let me get that house first. But time is ticking. So.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Yes. And you can't get it back, et cetera.

[Caller]

I can wait.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

You can't.

[Caller]

But this time I cannot get back none of it.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

And there's a price to pay. When I first started in radio and I was on late at night on where was I? Kfi. I was on late at night and I got a call from her mother. It was like 11:00 at night, all upset. She works full time and the little baby dash toddler somewhere in that was calling the nanny mom and I said, because she's performing the job. You're not. You made a choice.

[Caller]

Yeah, it's something that it hasn't felt right since I've been back at work and everything's just been temporary. But now it's just making that decision to let go of this role because I got to keep my priorities and I don't want to have regrets in 15 years thinking I was in the office. I didn't raise my kids for what. So thank you.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

You're welcome. I appreciate that you called my number. 1-800-375-2872. If you like this podcast, be sure to rate it on Apple podcasts or your favorite place to listen to my podcast. Of course. I'd love if you gave me five stars. And be sure to share this podcast with a friend on Facebook or your preferred social media platform.

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