Meet LeAnn.

She was seated at a table in the food court with seven young children (two not pictured). I knew immediately that she’d be fascinating to interview, so I approached without hesitation.

I asked LeAnn one question. “If you didn’t have to worry about money, what would you do with your life?”

This was her response.

She admitted up front, “Kids are my life.”

LeAnn wanted to be a teacher, but when she had her third child, she quit her job and had to stay home. So she began operating a daycare out of her home, and she teaches faith formation at her church for students being confirmed. She’s enjoyed being able to be home when her kids are sick, and she’s looking forward to being there when her grandbaby’s born.

If LeAnn didn’t have to worry about money, she said she’d “continue doing everything she’s doing now” except she’d be able to put her kids through college. She’d make sure her children and mother had their own homes so they don’t have to worry about that. And last, but not least, she’d have a separate house or building just for her daycare. Ideally, she’d like to step out the back door of her house and the daycare would be right there.

Oh yeah, and if she didn’t have to worry about money at all, she’d like to take more days off.

I’d wish all these things for LeAnn. Such a kind, caring soul.

So what can we learn from LeAnn?

I learned one thing from my interaction with LeAnn. And I believe this is an important lesson for all of us.

Never assume anything about anyone.

Never assume anything about other peoples’ satisfaction with their life.

And never assume anything about other peoples’ dreams for their life.

Period.

I have to be honest. Before I talked to LeAnn, I would’ve guessed she’d rather be doing something other than tending seven children.

But I was wrong.

I had projected my own feelings onto LeAnn. I’m pretty sure I would be completely stressed out if I was responsible for seven children all day long every day, and then in public, too, but LeAnn wasn’t.

LeAnn said herself that if she didn’t have to worry about money AT ALL, she’d “continue doing everything she’s doing” with a few tweaks.

If you give people a chance to speak for themselves, they might tell you a whole lot you never would’ve guessed.

So tell me…is there something from LeAnn’s story that you can take and apply to your own life? 

 

 

 

*This post is a part of a month-long 31 Days series titled Dreams from the Street. If you’d like to read more from my series, click here and you’ll be brought to the series landing page where all 31 posts are listed and linked! You can follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/AmyBPederson where I’ll tweet links to all 31 posts using hashtag #write31days, and I’d LOVE to connect on Facebook at facebook.com/AmyBPederson! I’m so glad you stopped by. Make yourself comfortable and take a peek around the place. You’re welcome back anytime.