... and I Stayed Home

Lety was cared by a wonderful and amazing mother and by a dad that was not only very smart and hard working but as she described him: "old fashion -but progressive". 
The reasons why Lety decided to quit her job as a soil scientist and stayed home to raise her children; with the same values and love she received by her parents while growing up in a barrio in Chicago. 

Thanks for listening to our life stories! 💕 ¡Gracias por escucharnos!
Contact me: Lydia@simplenatural.org

Chapters

• 0:00 Raised with wonderful values and her decision to stayed home.
• 24:37 Her job and worries... her children call her blessed... God calls us to be generous with LIFE

Transcript

Lydia:   0:03
I am so very happy to be here with you again. We are here in "Nuestro Diario Caminar" It is a beautiful day in South Texas, I think we are, like 80 some degrees outside.

Letty:   0:17
Yeah, about 80 something, right?  

Letty:   0:19
Yes. And this morning, I'm so happy because Letty,  is with us. 

Letty:   0:25
Good morning.  How are you, Letty?  

Letty:   0:27
I'm doing good.  Enjoying the morning? Yes,  I went for walk this morning, and it's still nice, not hot. 

Lydia:   0:34
Yes...  thank you for being here. And, Letty,  is a woman that I admire so much. And I met her a couple of years ago, actually when she was in college.

Letty:   0:48
I think we go back, like, 30 years? at least

Lydia:   0:53
Yes!  yes, and  I always wondered  what a girl from Chico was doing in Texas? Chicago,  who does not want to be in Chicago? Chicago is beautiful!

Letty:   1:04
It is,  it is!  Ah, it is a beautiful city, but you have to consider:  when you grew up in a "barrio", it's not so enchanting.

Lydia:   1:16
It's not the same as when we go visit, right?

Letty:   1:18
Exactly.  

Lydia:   1:20
Anyways,  she was part of "mi diario caminar en esta vida" she was part of my life and, I have thought about Letty many times because  she is a great example of motherhood!  -first of a woman,  the way she is, her inner self is just amazing and, what I have loved about you always is your calmness. I remember when I met you I was like: Wow!  this girl is just pretty nice and very dedicated. When I met you Letty, I had a baby.

Letty:   1:59
You were pregnant with your second son! I remember.  

Lydia:   2:02
Uh huh. We lived in campus.  

Letty:   2:06
Yes. You guys lived in campus, in the family apartments.

Lydia:   2:13
Yes! where all the families lived -Not in the dorms. And... you were  born in Chicago, right?

Letty:   2:20
I was  born and raised in Chicago, yes

Lydia:   2:22
But your parents were not from there!

Letty:   2:24
No, my parents were both from Comonfort Guanajuato,  a  small little town, but yeah, I  group speaking Spanish and, of course, it took me years,  I think it took us all years to find out that my dad actually did speak English because at home, we wanted something and we needed to say it in Spanish because otherwise he pretended he didn't understand. And so that was a big surprise when I heard him speak English. I'm like ha wait a minute, how come you can speak it and you tell us you don't understand?  But yeah, 

Lydia:   3:01
how beautiful!

Letty:   3:03
ah huh

Lydia:   3:04
How wonderful, a  way of you to first  speak Spanish.

Letty:   3:10
Yeah, we went to school, as a matter of fact. Ah. When I started Kinder's, my dad sent us to a Catholic school. It was a big sacrifice for him, I know it was because there was seven of us and only my dad had a job. One, because of the time and two because my mother,   she'd had a stroke. Um, left her left side paralyzed. But that did not mean that my mother was not an active mother. She was involved. My favorite memory of my mother is when I was in kindergarten and, there's always a little Christmas play. you know, that gets done. I think eighth graders do Nativity, well, kindergarten will do Aesop's fable, which was the lion and the mouse, I was  going to be the mouse. Some kind of the star of the show. Right? And my dad worked nights and he said I couldn't because he couldn't take us so that I had to tell the teacher that I couldn't be the mouse. So, I went to bed sad.  My mother went to the bed. Don't tell the teacher that you can't do it, let's see what we can do; so yeah, sure enough, my mom,  like I said, she's paralyzed on the left side. It was Christmas play. So it was December. It was already cold, super cold in Chicago, and, um and she had a hard time walking when it would get cold. She she's, uh, stiffen up. And anyway, she took me well, she took us all. 

Lydia:   4:44
Walking?

Letty:   4:44
Yeah, we walked to school , there was no one to leave us with, and it wasn't a far walk, but it seemed like a walk because my mama was very slow,  but my mom got me there. I was the star of the play  and, Yeah, to me, that's always been my example  - If my mom could do that, then I can do just about anything also for my Children.  

Lydia:   5:07
What  a beautiful an amazing story I am, um, and just just on its own, I mean, a person that doesn't have any kind of imparement walking,  walking in the winter in Chicago is harsh!

Letty:   5:19
Yeah. You think about it twice.

Lydia:   5:21
Right! now,  It's amazing. You know, I love that! one of the reasons why I wanted you to talk with us and that I admire you is because you are academically, you are a woman that is prepared. You studied many years

Letty:   5:38
Yes. I have a master's degree, masters and science.

Lydia:   5:42
She has a masters in science. And, and she is a stay at home mom.  

Letty:   5:47
Yes, and I love it!  And I'm very proud to say that I am a stay at home mom and I have been asked, What are you doing at home with a master's degree?

Lydia:   5:58
Okay. And I think it's a question that has many answers. And not maybe the answers that the person asking wants. 

Letty:   6:08
Right!exactly

Lydia:   6:09
Has it been more women asking you or, men?

Letty:   6:11
Women!  Women are baffled by the idea that I have a master's degree and I I'm at home with my Children, who, by the way, now they are not young. First, I'm still home because I still have one last one, a senior in high school, and if I was there for the 1st all the way through, I'm gonna be there for the last one.

Lydia:   6:32
How many kids do you have? tell us.

Letty:   6:33
Four,  three boys,  one girl.  

Lydia:   6:37
But you didn't stay a home at the beginning.

Letty:   6:40
No, I didn't. I thought, you know, at first I was like, OK, society told me: Okay, get an education, get a job. And in the early nineties, eighties nineties, that's what everybody was doing.  All the women, it was like, OK, you are a superwoman. And you can hold a full time job and raise your family and have the perfect house. So, yeah, I bought into it and, for  4.5 years, I, uh I was working, and,

Lydia:   7:14
you already had one baby.

Letty:   7:16
At the time, I already had three because, uh, well, this was born 94, 96,  98. Yes. 

Lydia:   7:24
And what was It?  was really what they used to say: they were super women!  Did you experience that, Yeah.  We are  superwoman but not in the sense that society wanted to make us believe isn't?

Letty:   7:38
Exactly. They wanted us to believe that you could do everything and have a perfect life. You know that your house could be perfectly clean and you can hold down a full time job and you can raise your family, you know, and everything's perfect on the outside. But no, nobody sees what's going on behind the doors.

Lydia:   8:01
And even though your husband was helping you.

Lydia:   8:03
Yeah, he did. He was very helpful. I mean, it was basically okay,  we come home,  I cook and you wash dishes afterwards I go up and bathe the kids, right? Yes. So, yeah,

Lydia:   8:20
And I imagine that, also having to go to work because you have a responsibility at  work, you are to be there every day  and you know, because a lot of things depend on what you are doing.  You and your husband were alone, and you don't have a close family -close by. 

Letty:   8:43
No support outside. And it was just me and him.

Lydia:   0:00
And when the kids got sick, what did you do?

Letty:   8:52
Had to take the day off. And I mean, and  I don't want to knock him, but, yeah, one time I sent him to the doctor, you know, because he was trying to help, but yeah, I was like, OK, so you  take him to the doctor. Well, what did he say? Well, something like this... And why is he giving him this medicine? -Why? I don't know, h e just said, take the medicine.  I'm saying, but you didn't ask this and you didn't ask this? you know. But I think that's just men  in general  don't go into so much detail like a mom.

Lydia:   9:21
It is because it's such a beautiful way we are, in our nature. We just, uh, by nature, just kind of have all of these inner gifts that we just somebody tells us something, especially the doctor, and we are like, No. Okay. Why, why these? How? consequences? Yes. No?   I see all of that many times. It is so beautiful, that we:  men and women are created to be complementary and also in marriage. What one can't do the other can and it is just our roles, it's amazing. But in regards of the children, it just make sense that we girls  by nature. When your baby the 1st one, the second, the 3rd one, the 4th one; you knew when they were gonna get up, wake up even before they started crying,  Isn't?

Letty:   10:15
Yes, uh I don't know. You could just, like, hear them kind of moving in their crib or in bed. And you knew something. They're like, Oh, something's not right. Let me get up and check on them.

Lydia:   10:28
That's so beautiful. And but Okay, so you have  one and then the other babies and try to do it. And what was the moment that you said, You know what? This is not happening! This is a lie! This is not what they told us that we could do;  society told us you can do all of these. you can be a superwoman in that aspect. Was there a moment to you decided? because you decided to stay home! Was it progressive?  Or there was just a day that you said -I am setting this time and that's it!

Letty:   11:02
I think it kind of worked itself into that because my oldest son was constantly sick at the day care. He was always had a runny nose. That was his allergies. And so he was on and off antibiotic. And, um yeah, but what really did it was that I realized one day: that,  I was raised with a certain set of values, and that's what I wanted for my Children. But they were spending more time at day care than they were in my care. So whose values were they learning? not mine. I mean, not to knock out... the daycare wasn't doing a good job. But I wanted them to learn my values, the values I grew up with, the values my husband and I have. And so, yeah, and that's  what it was.

Lydia:   12:01
I remember those years. It was these kind of propaganda:  that quality time, even though you don't give him all the time, what do you think about that? Because you lived  that, and you try to give them quality time

Letty:   12:14
right!

Lydia:   12:14
So what do you think about that? 

Letty:   12:17
I think that was a good idea but  it was  not realist because, you know, in the back of your head that you still have, you know, something to clean up, something to do it. You still have to get ready for tomorrow. And you're trying to enjoy your time with them there but you have that in the back, your mind. So you're not really giving them your whole self. And so yeah, I mean, it sounds good, but it's not real - in my opinion.

Lydia:   12:47
I agree with that. Personally, I just decided to stay home for many years and be with my kids as well and I was criticized. So, what is some of the questions that they ask us? Why are you here? Don't you know that you have a gift? Don't you know that you are so capable? Wow. You're wasting your life!  So what do you have to say to that? and even now,  the younger one is17  right now. You still at home.

Letty:   13:20
I am still at home because, um I mean, my sister told me she's like, because we , We've fallen on hard times where, uh, my husband lost his job and he used was  the sole income. Um, well, I  take that back because by this time I was substitute teaching just kind of to have a little  more money come in.  At that time, to me it was perfect because I could come and go have the same hours as my Children, and still be at home with them.

Lydia:   13:54
What a well prepared substitute teacher with all the studies you have!

Letty:   13:58
And it's fun to me. It's fun, going into different classrooms, seeing different Children and just interacting with  different Children on a daily basis.  

Lydia:   14:13
And I think you chose the perfect way of being active in a part time job. I remember when I was in college, I was in the cafeteria of the education building and there comes a girl, and she's just kind of started  a conversation with me. And then she tells me, what are you studying? well  I'm on early childhood education.  And she says: I think I'm going to become a teacher. And I said, really? wow! And what are your reasons? and she said: So I can't have lots of vacations!  and I was like -Please don't do that! Is that your only reason?  you have to have a heart! So you choose the perfect part time because you have a heart. And you have the personality and you believe to do the best for kids and  I think that shows also where you work. So anyway,  I just thought about it and I was like, Wow,  don't choose to do things just because it's convenient for certain reason. And no, for what it is in your heart. Definitely in your heart it was to have that time with your kids.

Letty:   15:19
Yes, that is exactly what it was.  

Lydia:   15:21
And I think, you know a lot of persons , women specially  might say well, yeah, but you have to work!  How you going to manage the situations, expenses and have a home and everything? What do you have to say about that?

Letty:   15:36
Well, yeah, I mean, it is depends on if you want it, you sacrifice certain things. And so, yeah, so you don't go to the mall is often or,  you don't go to the mall;  there's other stores to shop at!. And, uh, you just learn  to be more economical  in every aspect. I mean everything you know as far as even your groceries.  Okay, Yeah. It is good to, you know, everybody needs a break wants to go out and eat every now and then. It does not have to be every day or every other day. I mean, it should be something, and it does make it more special when it's not every day. So I think it's just more enjoyable that way.

Lydia:   16:19
It is. And also, you know, the opportunity that you have in your family to really eat healthy meals. The menu you prepare you are thinking and you try to buy the best, and we don't always have that in the restaurants. And I think it's just also another way that you bring the family together when you're eating at home. Isn't it? 

Letty:   16:38
Yes it is! and in the summer, the kids were around and they would help prepare, so that keeps them interested in what they're eating. And, uh and it's funny because my  Children would get upset because they would be invited to a little birthday party. I was like, Okay, you can go, But okay, Before you leave, have a little salad there, like you are the only mother in the world who makes us eat a salad before we go to a party. I was like, Well, because  you don't know when or  what you're gonna eat,  they  may take long. So this way, at least you have a little something in your stomach and you're not starving, you know? And, uh, I actually got thanked by my oldest son. Now that he's 25 years old, he's like, you know mom?  I know I used to complain a lot, but, you know, thank you for teaching me to eat properly.  I was like, Oh, well,  you are welcome. All these years you are  just trying to do the best for them. You didn't always. Because, you know, sometimes, you know, our ideas were a little messed up, but our intention was always trying the best for them.

Lydia:   17:48
And isn't it true that I mean, we have Children,  I know also, personally, we and our kids, different ages, Children, teenagers, We don't necessarily follow the same schedule, especially when it comes to their personalities. One kid might be more talkative or being open to conversation  with you may be in the morning,  Or maybe the other one in the evening. And when you're rushing, going here and there, all that gets put aside or maybe not  given opportunity for that communication that is essential with our children.

Letty:   18:21
Exactly, because you have, like you said, you have  the early bird who is chatty in the morning, and then the one who doesn't like to get up in the morning and does not have that personality -that that's my daughter. She's not a morning person. Never has been. And, uh, but in the evening, she chats away and I can sit up and stay with her. Especially now,  I have the luxury of saying I'm not I'm not gonna go today, cause I'm to spend  time with my kids because they're coming home from college. I have not  seen them in months. I want to stay home with them.  

Lydia:   18:59
How beautiful. Because, uh, you can't buy that with anything. The time with your kids  is  something that you'll have. I remember when my child, my 1st one  went off to college. I though,  only 18 years I had  him? and now he is going  across all these estates. It I was like, It's not enough. I had a sense that I was with them in their mornings and evenings. Their sickness, their growing up their doubts. That I  tried to be as  much as they needed me and beautifully helping them  be themselves in be Independent! Because what do you think? I mean, there is a lot of moms even when they work ,or dads as well,  they do everything for the kids. What do you think about that?

Letty:   19:48
I am very much into being independent, but I like I told my kids, independent does not mean you''re doing things by yourself. It's to me is teaching them to giving them direction, letting them do it,  kind of just stand back and they make a mistake. It's OK. You know what, then? Then you step in and help him And, uh,

Lydia:   20:16
That is so very important because, uh, one my think well,  she is just at home. She couldn't do everything for them. No, because then, do you don't help them solve their own problems. Like you say they need all of these experiences on their own. So I think that is a very fine line on when we are just trying to do everything for them. Stay at home moms or not, Moms that  work, and we have to be very careful.

Letty:   20:41
Yes, it's definitely you need to let them, that's part of letting them grow up. And unfortunately, and because I mean, my kids have told me: you can tell when parents have done everything for their Children because they go off to college and they don't know how to do anything, does not even make themselves a sandwich, you know, and, uh, they're lost and clueless. And I think going back in my case, where we learned at a very young age my sisters, my brother myself, Um, because my mom was paralyzed from her left side and we helped her do a lot. But when we were in school, she did everything on her own. The summers? Yes! She taught us. We had, everybody had their day to cook. Everybody had their day do laundry, you know? And we would take turns. And I say, Well, when I left home, I knew how to do everything because my mom taught me how to do everything because  she let me do things.

Lydia:   21:44
Yes.  

Letty:   21:46
That's what I want for my Children.

Lydia:   21:48
You know, I also admire so much what  you have told me about your father. How he how he was...

Letty:   21:54
Yes, He was, I think he was  old fashioned but progressive for a man.

Lydia:   22:00
I like that!

Letty:   22:00
Yes, Because he watched over us like a hawk having six daughters and he was very overprotective. But at the same time, he told us you're gonna get an education because. you don't need to depend on anybody. You can depend on yourself. 

Lydia:   22:22
Y que Dios lo tenga en Su Santa Gloria, a tu padre y a tu madre.

Letty:   22:27
Gracias! And I  I passed this on to my kids,  before he let us drive, before you got behind the steering wheel of a car, you had to learn to take, remove a tire, take it off, and then put it back on.  

Lydia:   22:43
Awesome.  

Letty:   22:44
Yes, because that was of course, I don't know how expensive or not. Like I said, we grew up in a barrio,  before triple A and all this roadside stuff. And, um, you know, if he was at work, he wasn't gonna be able to get out of work and come help you. You needed to be ableto help yourself. And so before you even got to get behind the steering wheel, you learned to change a tire. You learned how to maintain your car, the oil and making sure all the fluids were at level. And  when he let you borrow the car, Yes, but did you check everything?  

Lydia:   23:24
Well, yeah. So nice. And, he worked a lot  right? 

Letty:   23:32
Yes. Like I said,  he worked a lot to he got any overtime he could. And he also worked at home on weekends or in the evenings as a shadetree mechanic. He learned to fix cars with an uncle. And of course, he'd never studied that because he only went to school up until the third grade and then was brought over to Texas when he was 12. Um, but ah, yes. So he did not he never had a formal education. And, uh, but yet he was a very smart man.

Lydia:   24:15
Yes, I love so much that you telling us a little bit about the wonderful time when you lived in Chicago. And I think, that is the influence for your decision to be with your kids.    

Letty:   0:00
Yes!

Lydia:   24:38
We are here again in "nuestro diario caminar" with Letty. Just enjoying this beautiful, conversation about her life about her parents, about her decisions to stay at home. And so I want to take again these question that that you have had been asked: Why did you stayed at home?  What is your response to this question?

Letty:   24:59
It used to bother me. It doesn't bother me anymore because to me, the the answer is, I am well prepared to raise my children. Yes, that's what I'm doing at home with my education. That's what it is. Because I can say that I used my education as far as to help them research things or,  I research things to be able to give them the best advice in whatever it is, they asked me.  

Lydia:   25:29
And your kids have been in  very competitive schools. Yes, especially the high schools have had prepared them well to continue with their education. But I think,  what you had also given them is your values as  a person, as a human being and your time. 

Letty:   25:46
Yes. And in that I'm seeing now that it you get it back, because they take the time to come home and visit. And I think one of the best Mother's Day presents that I got Was, my oldest son. It was his second year way at Texas State, and he drove out of early on May 10 and drove down, spent the day with me. We went to the movies, to eat. We talk, we had coffee, and then he had class the next day so that evening he left. And to me, that was- I mean, I couldn't have asked for a better gift.

Lydia:   26:35
That is a present that you can set a value to. Wow, how beautiful. You know, "estos son los dividendos" This is your gift that you collect, the gift of all you did.  And,  that that doesn't mean that a mom that does not stay home is not going to have great kids. No, we don't mean that.

Letty:   26:59
No, no,  I think it's all about how, I think it's about letting go  of the being the superwoman being perfect  because there is no such thing as being perfect. I think you have to decide what is  priority. A clean house, the magazine looking house or spending actual quality time with your Children. It's the floor need to be mopped every day? Or should you, you know, could you sit down and talk with your kids, have dinner with them, you know, and not be rushed.

Lydia:   27:40
And I know,  even a staying at home. It is exhausting.    

Letty:   27:47
It is, it is exhausting. 

Lydia:   27:47
Especially when  your kids are younger because, uh, the day's over is like -Thank you God!  Everybody's well, rested, in their beds. Let's call it a day and tomorrow we'll start again. 

Letty:   28:03
Yes! 

Lydia:   28:05
What does your husband, how was his support? because  women have told me Well, yeah, but my husband wouldn't like for me to stay at home. And sometimes they want to stay at home but  they can't because they say that they have to, because whatever reasons, or because they have their career. I remember a  lady that I met with her husband, they had a baby. She had a masters as well, like you, but on  another area. And, it was in a seminar that I was teaching ,  I met them with other couples. When I am saying, what is your choice? What is gonna be your choice? Because in this seminary with  couples that were  just getting married. So part of a marriage preparation. Uh, and your girl,  you woman, are you thinking about staying home with the kids? You need to talk about all of these  right now when you are engaged I was telling them.  And then, latter on  when I meet one  to one with a couples, she said that she wanted to stay at home since they had a newborn baby.  But, when she brought it up, especially the women in her family, her relatives will say -no. Why are you going to do that? What a waste, you went to school for nothing? But then she said, But I want to stay home. And then I remember asking the husband, What do you think about it? And he said, Yes,  if that's what she wants. What a better  thing that my child will be care for by  his mother.

Letty:   29:44
and I was lucky enough,  and  I may complain about my husband, and I  don't know what woman does not.

Lydia:   29:53
and they complain about us.

Letty:   29:55
Yes, I'm sure. But I know he does, because I'm not perfect either but yeah,  I have been blessed with a good husband. And we talked about it  when we were, uh, dating and getting  engaged. I told him,  I think I would like to stay home with my kids because I like that my mother raised us.  So  I don't know if he took it serious then and you know, but yeah, when, um, our third child was born and I got to stay home. That I think, was part of the decision. It just so happened that I was able to do some work out of my house and go in once a week and just turn it in. And I would take my kids to the office  to turn in my work.

Lydia:   30:47
How beautiful!

Letty:   30:48
It was! And, uh, and then they're just pick up more maps because oh, by they way, I didn't tell you what I used to do. I was a Soil Scientist with  the  Natural Resources Conservation Service. At  the time were I was able to do inventory,  the technology was coming in,  I was able to take stuff home and and do it at home, and I realized I was really enjoying being home with my Children.

Lydia:   31:16
And you were one of the first woman that I heard about that was able to work from home in these kind of field. 

Letty:   31:23
Yes!

Lydia:   31:26
And so you lived both things,  being off the office all the time and then gradually going occasionally to the office and staying home. And then it's a beautiful example. Also, that your kids saw you, that you are working but you are also  home with them.

Letty:   31:44
And I did. I had the newborn, he would spend the time with me in the room. And the older two, I actually had a friend come over and help me. 

Letty:   31:55
She was like,  what's the plan? Okay, well, I would like them to go out to park and, you know, and lunch time I would come and eat, come down and meet with them, or we go picnic, then I go back up and finish..  And I realized that I really enjoyed spending that time with my Children.  And going back to what my husband thought it when I told him; because I was earning more money than he was at that time and he is  like, Are you sure? we're not gonna make it, like we're not gonna make it. I'll say:  we'll be fine. We'll be fine. We just going to tighten the belt and we will be OK , and if it doesn't work I'll go back.

Lydia:   32:47
I like what you just said: If it  doesn't work;  I'll go back.  Because I know women have try it,  either for different reasons economic, or maybe they just can't.  

Letty:   32:59
Yeah, is just for some is not in their nature. They need to be more social, they need to get out there because we're all different. And for some of us, it works. And for some of us, it doesn't.  

Lydia:   33:11
But it's  wonderful to have that opportunity and I think sometimes we deny even the possibility of a thought -Can I stay at home? Yeah. So think about it, what would you like to do? Well, all of you that are listening think about it. What will you like to do? I remembered also another lady that I met a couple of years ago that she stayed at home as well.  And her kids went also to catholic schools and, so expensive. Of course it is, her husband was working. She was a stay at  home. But now, years later and she told me also as well,  like you. That it was the best think that she could've done. The kids got to have the best education. And why? Because she was obviously helping them get to places, go to be  part of this club  and all of the activities that had to do enriched their  curriculum? Yes, in a way that I think almost all of them got merit  scholarships in universities. Because sometimes you're working and you're thinking, Oh, my gosh. How am I gonna do with the kids are going to grow up. They're gonna go to college. How are we gonna pay? We need to work. We need to save,  we need to  have this funding. And in her case, I remembered she tell me years ago, God is  going to provide. And I celebrate that and you are also part of this. 

Letty:   34:36
And He did it because I can understand. I can tell you there were months that... well  my husband get paid once a month and I would be making all payments, balancing the checkbook, just like Okay, we're done. It's the 25th. So many more days  and we're down to the last $10 in the bank. And that's it was like ok. Hopefully nobody gets sick. Hopefully, they don't need anything for a project. You know, Hopefully there's nothing No field trip coming up. No, nothing, You know, cause we're down to the last $10 I can afford a gallon of milk and some eggs to get us through the week. But, you know? everything was always okay! 

Lydia:   35:47
You  always had something to put on the table.

Letty:   35:49
I always had something to put on the table and it never came down to Oh, my God what am I gonna do?  

Lydia:   35:53
And healthy! the ten dollars was just in case the milk, that we need another gallon.

Letty:   35:58
Exactly. It was just in case, but they were there and, God always, was always there.

Lydia:   36:07
A great administrator you became. and  I'm thinking of Provers  31 and I think I need to find it and read it, huh? Yes, I think it's appropriate. About the  wife, the  woman, let me see.  -- A good wife  who can find?  she's far more precious than  jewels, the heart of a husband trust in  her and he will have no lack  or gain. She does him good and not harm all the days of her life. Oh, my gosh, Letty I think  I'm just concentrate on this ---- She makes linen garments and sells them. She delivers girdles to the  merchant. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the turn to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom and the teaching  of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways in her household and she doesn't eat the bread of idleness. Her Children rise  up and call her blessed,  her husband also and he praises her.  Many women have done excellently but you surprise them all.  Charm is  deceitful, and beauty is vain. But a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.  How beautiful! So through anything in our lives, we  have an opportunity to be this woman.  In your daily  work at the office, at the factory in your daily work at home, but over all -How beautiful, I love these: her Children  call her Blessed her husband also,  He praises her,  many women have been excellently but you surprise them all . Yes! many women have done excellently but you surprise them  all.  What a  beautiful way to keep on serving God!  that you made a decision and you said it: This is what I'm gonna do. This is the way I'm going to serve God!   

Letty:   38:39
This that's exactly what it is. That's my way of serving God. Because he gave me the gift of four Children. So he gave me clay to mould. And yes, that has been one of my greatest motivators,  it is -I need to do right. And if I have no other influence, I want it to be on the four Children  You gave me and, that they be good people! 

Lydia:   39:14
And they are! So I honor you for  dedicating all of these years to them and for making that choice and for living it and, um, for being a strong even when there was 10  dollars in the bank and for  continuing and for impulsing your Children Because, I really I want to ask you,  why is the reason  where you're here? Why is your reason why God give your Children? To love Him. We are co-creators with Him. And I love what you  said about the clay, the clay is there! He formed it,  He made it. But it is through the daily lives with them -with our  Children that the clay takes  different colors and different shades and different  shapes. Isn't it amazing?

Letty:   40:16
It is, and we have. And I do see it that way,  because when  I said in the beginning, when we started  shaping them with our values, I saw him, my oldest being shaped with values that were not mine. And and that's not what I wanted.     

Lydia:   40:37
Things were not going where they supposed to be, How beautiful. And I think over time is also that confirmation has has been over and over and about your decision to stay home.  

Letty:   40:51
Yes. And I think one of the deeds that  made it easier for me was, um my father went with me to turn in my letter of resignation.

Lydia:   41:04
Oh, wow! What did your father tell you? Because I remember the words that he had for you, and for his  Children that he wanted all of you to have an education.

Letty:   41:14
Yes. And to me, I felt that I was letting him down if I quit my job and, um and so I talked to him. He happened to be in Baton Rouge with me at the time. That's where we were at the time. And, um, my third child was born, and by this time my mom had already passed. Well, she didn't get to know any of my Children, unfortunately, but my dad stepped into mother shoes, and, uh, he came down to help me. Um, baby was about three weeks old. He came down to help me. If  nothing else. He would watch the other ones while I took a shower, and he would help me cook.  

Lydia:   42:01
What a beautiful support.  

Letty:   42:02
Yes, that it was a beautiful support. And, um So I told him that I wanted to quit, and he told me that the most important thing is family. And, if that's what I had decided, do it! And he accompanied me because where else was I gonna leave the kids? We went We drove to the office, My three kids, we all got out of the car and had my letter of resignation in hand. I turned it in and, uh, they asked me, are you sure these is what you want to do? I  turned around looked at  my father. He's like, Well, you decided, your decision! I said -yes!This is what I want to do. And I still remember walking out the door, tears rolled down my eyes and my father told me He's says, Why are you crying? What about  if I don't ever get another job? He's like, You're not gonna  get another chance to be a mother again.  

Lydia:   43:20
How beautiful!

Letty:   43:23
But to me, that was the biggest thing, because I honest that that's one of the reasons I struggled with wanting to keep working was because I was I felt like, Well, my father said, you know, Plus, he's like, Well, you're getting an education because I don't want you to ever have to depend on anybody. But I think I took it back then at the wrong reason that, you know, he  meant that if we were ever in a bad situation,  And, uh so he wanted to know that if we were ever in a bad situation, we would be okay. But my situation was good. So

Lydia:   43:57
and you never know. You know, there's still the things that happen in life that  when you are prepared, it will be easier and better for you. And you said I'm gonna get another job. Yes. You were going to get another job. If not as a  soil scientist It would have been about something else.

Letty:   44:14
Yeah, something else. Something where I could also spend time with my Children.  

Lydia:   44:22
So I love coming back to your father. Your father words -is your decision this So it was your decision.  I want to thank you so much  for that, because I think,  I learned many more things from you that I did not  know. And, I really hope that -all of your girls ladies that are listening, if it is in your heart, make a plan. Yes! Make it possible. If you are  in situation that you can do it. It can be done. We don't need to drive that most luxurious car. We don't need to have extra things that really are not  the real core value. May be that call that   you are having today or,  that you had  for some time. So be brave, be strong, decide! and celebrate life.

Letty:   45:19
Give yourself the opportunity to try. Just try.  

Lydia:   45:23
I love that! It has  being a wonderful conversation with you all "En nuestro diario coming"  Letty,  Thank you so much for your words.  

Letty:   45:35
Thank you for the opportunity to let me share with you because you and I have shared a lot, like 30 years. You have also been one of my inspirations because I have seen you raise your own six Children and stay home and make do with what you have and things change and, you know, but  you have, you were also an inspiration to me

Lydia:   46:07
thank you.

Letty:   46:09
Because, you know, what I do remember is that when we moved to McAllen, and, um, you were my support here because I didn't know anybody. And

Lydia:   46:17
your husband has gotten a job here, and it happened that we were leaving here.  

Letty:   46:21
Yes. And, uh, and you became our support here, and I remember you kind of guided me around. What things for kids to do in McAllen and the Oh, my favorite. The library. 

Lydia:   46:33
Yes. Our favorite. Always! read  hundreds if  no thousands of books. With our  kids,  to our kids and our kids themselves.   

Letty:   46:44
I do. I remember that. You know, you kind of guided me through, you know, especially when we moved here. And I had just quit my job 6 months prior to that. So you are also  an example, it can be done. It's gonna be OK. And it's all you know what's important to you and do what's important to you. Because that's what I always saw you do.

Lydia:   47:18
Yes, I always did. I sometimes I  wasn't sure if what I was doing is what I  was supposed to be doing.  But I always allowed myself ,in all the decisions and all the walks that I did to be at peace, to be in silence, to be in solitude and then kind of listen that voice  or be aware for that sign that is going to tell you -this is the next. You know, I think trusting this in the higher power trusting in the Divine Providence. I think that's where we sometimes are lacking.  In our case, uh, well, a lot of criticisms, because from different people, even from relatives,  like another baby, another baby?

Letty:   48:05
Yes, I got that too.

Lydia:   48:06
You know, it is so beautiful that, I love that we women have a choice. Yes, your choice. my choice. And in my case, I chose to stay home as well, and I chose to be generous with the gift of life as  you did to.  And Gad gave us this, all His plans have always been for each one of them. And, I share  a lot of things, like you said  and I remember when I  was pregnant with my baby number four.  I had this wonderful friend and previously I had talked about this a little bit in another program.  She had a beautiful, wonderful big home. She had people that helped her, But  only had two kids. We were having breakfast in my little apartment in, uh, I wasn't sure if he was the time to tell her that I was expecting baby number four. And then I said,: I'm expecting. She was glad, happy but  she had a couple of tears. She said that she couldn't have more kids, that she would have loved to have more. I'm staying  home as well, I have the biggest house and I can't have more children. So for me, that is so important, you know? How do you decide to have Children? Number one, number two, number three, or whatever children  you have? Well, just like I said, be quiet in a quietness state of mind, of being, in the business of raising all your other Children and be attentive because sometimes God is telling you: is  time! for  another one, another one of my Children to be here.

Letty:   50:07
And now that you say, people say they plan, I can say that I did not plan how many Children?  No, I did say I want four Children. I did  at the very beginning. That kind of scared my husband, but, um, I didn't say Okay, well, okay, this one is  already two so now it's time to get pregnant with the other. But no, it was just they come when they come,  and love them as they are.

Lydia:   50:43
Yes, that's so beautiful. That's the beauty of  being open of  being aware of being waiting.  Many times, I  don't know several times when I have done seminars also on these natural family planning and and fertility education; I had  found women that regret no have had more Children. Why? Because their mom, the friends and relatives told them: What for?  another one? what for? you are fine. Your kids had already these age. You wanna start again?  

Letty:   51:17
Oh, yeah. I already I have got that too.  Well, you already have a boy and a girl. You don't need more.

Lydia:   51:24
You know, we really forget that God calls us to be  generous with life. Yes, because it is His. What a more generous way of dedicating time than  being in disposition and if you are able to, why not?  you know, just to be open to life and do honor that gift that womanhood has.  So, I love Letty, that you continue honoring your father and your mother and your kids, your husband and God through the decisions that you have made in your life,  and also that you have given us an example:  It's possible, is doable trust and, just don't be afraid. Be sure about what you're doing. Your emotions, your worries. Your what if,  give it  to God.  

Letty:   52:20
Yes. And you said early when we started that I am a very peaceful person, and I think that's where my peace comes from.  Yes, because that's exactly where my peace comes from -is from God. Because I can do nothing but give Him my problems, my everything. And He takes care of it.

Lydia:   52:44
Your hopes, your loves, your womanhood. Thank you so much. And it's been a pleasure again to have you here "En Nuestro diario caminar"  Letty gracias!

Letty:   52:51
Gracias Lydia!

Letty:   0:00