Student achievements continue to be one of the top priorities for parents, making sure that they do the best they can for their children, and there are wonderful resources for them to turn to. One of the most important is the School Counselor. They are deeply committed to providing a quality education for students and are there to help each student recognize their potential and build self esteem. Character is important but children have so many bad examples in life, especially in the political arena. They need to be taught values like, honesty, reliability, kindness to others, how to accept people of all ethnicities and value the differences. This sort of thing may still be taught in some private schools, but the public school teachers are overwhelmed with the size of the classes and, sadly, have no time to evaluate each child. So parents turn to other resources. Have you noticed that after-school tutoring is now almost the norm when children get left behind? Let us teach our children that in the United States of America anything is achievable if they are willing to set their sights high. Many examples are written in history, even with disadvantaged beginnings, that great heights can be achieved for those willing to work for it.

Now who listens to Dr. Laura?? A sharp and entertaining, sassy lady who has my admiration for putting children first. However, the advice she gives to her audience to be a “stay at home mother at all costs” bothers me. Great advice if you can afford it, but we do not live in a Utopian society. What a guilt trip she puts on mothers who are not able to stay at home to take care of their children. Her advice is “live cheaper,” say to your husband (when the moment is right), “Sweetie, I KNOW you will find a way to take care of us all” and do this with a kiss and a promise!! Unfair to the poor husband who is doing the best he can, but not that well. Plenty of divorced moms having trouble paying bills when that ex-husband does not meet his obligations. Maybe happily married but financially insecure? With the economy such as it is, stock-market crashing, banks closing, houses being foreclosed, jobs being outsourced, and company lay-offs causing not only lost income, but also loss of the family medical insurance that came with the job. It is not surprising that some families need the added protection of two paychecks. As founder of a tutoring company, I hear about these stories. My heart goes out to families struggling to provide the best possible education for their children at all costs. They are to be admired.

So please Dr. Laura, lay off with the guilt trip!!.