[Marilyn]

I'm feeling a bit better. And yes, I have great envy for anyone who is able to afford the luxury of staying home with their children. I was never able to do so. As soon as the doctor said I was well enough to return, it was back to work. Since graduating from high school, I've either been going to college or working all but 6 months of the time. When in college, I went straight through, summers and all. I was off for maternity leave and right back to work. When I was dealing with my mother and her alzheimers, going to doctors and in the nursing home, I was working fulltime and raising two little girls with a husband who was also working more than 40 hours. Mother became ill in 1995 and passed away in 2000. In 1995 my oldest was 10 and youngest was 8.

So after all of this, I'm a bit bitter when I hear women who do not work outside the home complaining about all they have to do. I wanted so badly to be home with our children, but we never could afford for me to do so. Now we can't afford for me to retire. It never ends!!!

Work all your life for what??? I can cry real easily thinking of all the things that I missed out on. People say we have choices in life. Well mine were made for me.

You hit a cord. Just had to vent!!