Kids becoming Firefighters and Cops

[Anonymous]

I know plenty of kids who became firefighters and cops, be those were the only decent paying jobs they could do if they wanted to stay in their hometown or even nearby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Young men and women that are dedicated, mentally tough, and have a desire to help people in the community on their worst days choose occupations like these. The reason they earn a healthy living plus a decent pension is because many other people can’t do these jobs. Imagine chasing a large suspect down a dark alley at 1am, or carrying a child with burns out of a house fire. The same holds true for trauma/ER nurses. Generally they make decent money and many earn overtime.

True but those choosing firefighting in particular should be aware of the high level of toxins they'll be inhaling as part of their job, and the cancers and respiratory diseases that come with that. There have been 400 firefighters that have died of cancer or respiratory disease post 9/11.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You make 260K not 130K. My Cop uncles all had stay at home wives. They worked long hours, weird shifts, two were detectives like you see on TV. And they mostly had 3-4 kids not just two. My Aunts went to school plays, graduations, weddings often by themselves.

I like to see you live your lifestyle if your husband made 130K as a cop and you have four kids.

Are you aware that it’s 2026? Most families are dual income.

Our single son is doing well in a HCOL area.

No wife.

No kids.

The freedom to work overtime.

It is not 2022 where dual income was a thing back in the old days of 2022. The stats back it up.

Stay At Home Moms Numbers Rising
The number of stay-at-home moms in the U.S. has seen a significant increase, with nearly a quarter of American mothers identifying as stay-at-home parents. This rise is attributed to various factors, including the need for flexible work schedules, high child care costs, and the desire to spend more time with their children. The survey by Motherly's State of Motherhood 2023 Report indicates that stay-at-home moms are now 24% of the U.S. population, up from 15% in 2022.

My Uncle was in charge of the FBI of a large County office around the size of Montgomery County MD. He had a SAHM wife and four kids. No way could his wife work. He was during all types of hours, crime happens 24/7. Law and Order, CSI, type jobs work does not happy 9-5. And my Firefighter uncles worked 24 hours shifts a lot. But they all had side jobs on days off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You make 260K not 130K. My Cop uncles all had stay at home wives. They worked long hours, weird shifts, two were detectives like you see on TV. And they mostly had 3-4 kids not just two. My Aunts went to school plays, graduations, weddings often by themselves.

I like to see you live your lifestyle if your husband made 130K as a cop and you have four kids.

Are you aware that it’s 2026? Most families are dual income.

Our single son is doing well in a HCOL area.

No wife.

No kids.

The freedom to work overtime.

It is not 2022 where dual income was a thing back in the old days of 2022. The stats back it up.

Stay At Home Moms Numbers Rising
The number of stay-at-home moms in the U.S. has seen a significant increase, with nearly a quarter of American mothers identifying as stay-at-home parents. This rise is attributed to various factors, including the need for flexible work schedules, high child care costs, and the desire to spend more time with their children. The survey by Motherly's State of Motherhood 2023 Report indicates that stay-at-home moms are now 24% of the U.S. population, up from 15% in 2022.

My Uncle was in charge of the FBI of a large County office around the size of Montgomery County MD. He had a SAHM wife and four kids. No way could his wife work. He was during all types of hours, crime happens 24/7. Law and Order, CSI, type jobs work does not happy 9-5. And my Firefighter uncles worked 24 hours shifts a lot. But they all had side jobs on days off.

Let’s be honest, when 75% of families don’t have SAHMs, dual income families are a thing. In the late 60s and early 70s SAHMs almost reached 50%.

Most SAHMs fall on the two extremes of the income spectrum. For many their SAHM status is also temporary. As children reach school age the mother’s status changes.

Regardless, this topic is about “kids” becoming firefighters and police.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t be mad because you tried to tout something crappy about a job as a virtue and then had to have it explained to you.

I’m not mad. Hopefully the markets don’t crash and disrupt your kid’s retirement plans. Actually, I hope they’re even saving for retirement because 401k balance averages by age group are chronically insufficient.

That’s what the annual gifts and inheritance are for.

Hence taking the easy way out. Thanks for making my point. Your grandfather would be so proud.

Yeah, he would be, because he worked a hard, crappy job so that the people who came after him wouldn’t have to. He wasn’t a sucker that bought into the idea that hard work and long hours are virtuous.

Who said anything about virtue? First you mischaracterize what Epicurus taught, then you substitute virtuous for resilient. Apparently a trust fund can’t furnish intellect, or common sense.

Except I didn’t do either of those things.

No one said anything about a trust fund. I get that leaving money to an heir is a foreign concept for you, so I’ll give you a pass on this one.

[Anonymous]

I’m trying to remember if a child dressed up as an accountant or computer scientist ever showed up at our door on Halloween.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m trying to remember if a child dressed up as an accountant or computer scientist ever showed up at our door on Halloween.

Definitely seen revenge of the nerds type dress… career advice from 10 years?

[Anonymous]

The cop or firefighter with the SAHW and 3-4 kids only works if you're willing to live in WV or SoPA or MD Panhandle and deal with the long commute. Which a lot of them do. They want the land, the ATVs, the boat, the SAHW, etc.

I grew up in California and cops there can’t afford that lifestyle anymore. Lots of the LAFD live in ID, MT, or NV and fly in for shifts so they can replicate the lifestyle of their fathers and grandfathers.

But most cops’ wives are nurses who can take flexible shift work or stop/start work as the kids get older. SAHW is only for poor people or the wives of surgeons/PE/HF types.

Also - I never met a black cop whose wife doesn’t work and is SAHW. Very rare. The idea of a SAHW on a cop’s salary is a white cultural entitlement. And it’s disappearing fast.

[Anonymous]

You want to see someone get evasive?

Ask them this: “a firefighter or a cop is a government job - right?”

You’ll be hard pressed to get a straight answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You want to see someone get evasive?

Ask them this: “a firefighter or a cop is a government job - right?”

You’ll be hard pressed to get a straight answer.

What’s your point? If they work for the state, county, or town it’s fairly obvious.

Ask a sheriff’s deputy. Their boss is elected. They know it’s political.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m trying to remember if a child dressed up as an accountant or computer scientist ever showed up at our door on Halloween.

No, but that’s why they don’t choose careers until they are adults.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m trying to remember if a child dressed up as an accountant or computer scientist ever showed up at our door on Halloween.

No, but that’s why they don’t choose careers until they are adults.

Make sure you teach them about the value of a pension, being paid for every minute you work, and early retirement. Luckily the youngest among us will see the deleterious effect of AI on careers in time to make more stable career decisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m trying to remember if a child dressed up as an accountant or computer scientist ever showed up at our door on Halloween.

No, but that’s why they don’t choose careers until they are adults.

Make sure you teach them about the value of a pension, being paid for every minute you work, and early retirement. Luckily the youngest among us will see the deleterious effect of AI on careers in time to make more stable career decisions.

You’re assuming the pensions and early retirement will still be offered to new hires in 15 years or so. That’s a big assumption.

Many of the best paying and prosperous jobs for those kids are likely not even understood yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m trying to remember if a child dressed up as an accountant or computer scientist ever showed up at our door on Halloween.

No, but that’s why they don’t choose careers until they are adults.

Make sure you teach them about the value of a pension, being paid for every minute you work, and early retirement. Luckily the youngest among us will see the deleterious effect of AI on careers in time to make more stable career decisions.

You’re assuming the pensions and early retirement will still be offered to new hires in 15 years or so. That’s a big assumption.

Many of the best paying and prosperous jobs for those kids are likely not even understood yet.

Like plumbing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m trying to remember if a child dressed up as an accountant or computer scientist ever showed up at our door on Halloween.

No, but that’s why they don’t choose careers until they are adults.

Make sure you teach them about the value of a pension, being paid for every minute you work, and early retirement. Luckily the youngest among us will see the deleterious effect of AI on careers in time to make more stable career decisions.

You’re assuming the pensions and early retirement will still be offered to new hires in 15 years or so. That’s a big assumption.

Many of the best paying and prosperous jobs for those kids are likely not even understood yet.

Like plumbing?

Plumbing being gobbled up by PE, low paid for the PE-owned firms, and you're physically broken by age 50.

The only plumber I know with a pension works for the state of California. Very good union wage and benefits. But again.....government job seems to be the answer.