This is a guest post by Lauren Weber.
We all do crazy things for love. People get tattoos expressing love. People go online and cross the oceans hoping to find a lifelong partner to love. People die for love.
While my story isn’t quite so dramatic, I will be the first to say that love has changed my life in so many ways. Here’s my story.
I went to college with a solid purpose: to earn a degree, which I would put to use one day. Halfway through my schooling, I decided to end my continuous string of boy drama and concentrate on something I never thought of: myself.
I decided I was going to move to Chicago after college to pursue my passion of public relations. I dreamed of loft living, relying solely on public transit and late nights dancing in the VIP section with my girlfriends.
Then something happened and snagged my plans: I fell in love. I tried to deny it at first. I told him that I had plans to move, so it was in his best interest to not get too close.
He didn’t get the picture, and after months of chasing me, I decided to give in and try dating him. Just weeks in, I knew I couldn’t live without him being part of my daily life. We vowed our hearts to each other in marriage three years later.
Chicago was then out of the picture. Growing up a farm boy, he couldn’t fathom the idea of leaving family behind and not having easy access to green spaces. I compromised. If we couldn’t do Chicago, I wanted to work in Detroit (and live in the ‘burbs to appease him). Fortunate for me, he followed after I landed a job.
We knew we didn’t want to wait long before starting a family…and a year and a half later, we found out we were going to be parents. It was one of the most amazing feelings ever.
When I saw our little girl for the first time, her life flashed before my eyes: I saw her first day of school, her walking across a stage and receiving a diploma and finally falling in love with someone just as I had.
The thought of missing a single moment of my little gal’s life filled me with tension, and nothing seemed to matter but being in her presence – reading to her, wiping away her tears and yes, even changing her messy diapers.
Despite having a career many would love, I gave it up. At first I shuttered at the thought of giving up on the college degree and career I had worked so hard for to just stay home. But as time went on, I began to see things differently. I thought what better way to put my college education to use than staying home while she’s young to teach her and help prepare her for her life ahead?
My career can wait. My baby and her life can’t.
So, fast-forward to now: We are on a tight budget. No big future vacations planned. We won’t be getting a new vehicle any time soon. And yet, I’ve never been so sure that this was the right decision.
I may be financially poorer now than ever, but I’m richer in love than I’ve ever been.
How has love changed your life?
Lauren Weber is a former PR professional turned stay-at-home mom and freelance writer. When she’s not changing diapers or trying to get her daughter to say “ma-ma,” she’s keeping up with Detroit news and sharing things she finds interesting on Twitter. Follow along: @LaurenWeber84.