If a person knows they want to be a SAHP, is it still a good use of money to go to college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To me, it's insane not to but I don't know their situation. I wouldn't advise anyone not related to me about their educational plans unless asked.
Most of the scant few fellow sahms I know didn't plan on this path until there was a baby in arms, work demands/bad employment prospects and/or high need for flexibility. It seems like an odd (maybe religious?) choice to have that goal set before knowing your options. I wonder if she is being influenced by some media she leans toward?

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think she’s asking for advice.

op - no, fair, she wasn't - I just am one of those people who always thinks they 'have the answer' and I had nothing. which was fine.
i dont think she knows really either.

Historically the answer was that in a traditional family you want the mother educated because she will have the most influence on the children (I have a lot of mormon relatives). But the kid's attitude, "It will be fun!" is concerning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:May Rihani, who formerly co-chaired the UN Girls’ Education Initiative, said that educated mothers raise educated children. The more intelligent, experienced, educated and worldly a mother is, the better, because there is so much she can teach and share with her children.

Yes and the data shows that mother's education matters more than a father's. It's one of the largest predictors of children's educational level.

[Anonymous]

What if the SAHP thing doesn’t work out? She gets divorced and is then forced to get a job. It would be a lot harder to do with no skills and no degree

[Anonymous]

An education is never wasted.

And for her case in particular, the odds of finding someone who can support her being interested in someone with just a high school diploma are pretty slim.

[Anonymous]

Having a college education can in fact enhance your life outside of job and also provide knowledge and skills that apply to parenting. Degree will also come in handy when dealing with husband's co-workers and perhaps events, etc. She could go for an Education degree or Arts degree but a more educated stay at home mom is never a bad thing.

[Anonymous]

My mother was a child refugee, high school drop out, teen bride, SAHM who had no close contacts outside of her birth family, husband or children. Her ILs lived in another country and without a car, it was tough to commute to extended family which lived in neighboring towns.

Believe me, its VERY important for SAHM mothers to have an education and a social life.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Where else do you plan to find a sponsor? Plus your kid can get legacy and find themselves one.

[Anonymous]

Its also very important for work from outside moms AND dads to have a good education (not just trade training) and a good social life.

[Anonymous]

A wide and balanced education adds a lot of value to people's lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely. It is difficult to find a high-earning man without a college degree.

but then is the college degree obtained to make the person 'marriage quality'?

Yes. Have you not heard of an "MRS" degree?

Also, tragedy happens. Divorce happens. If one finds themself in a position where they need a job they are much better off with a degree when they go looking.

This!

[Anonymous]

My sister also wanted to be a SAHM at 18, three decades later, she has two masters degrees and runs an organization with 250 employees and received many awards acknowledging her role in changing lives of thousands of women with no resources.

[Anonymous]

Everyone needs to be able to support themselves and one or two other people.

[Anonymous]

Even if nothing bad happens and she always has resources to live her preferred lifestyle, support her DH, raise her kids, run her household, be there for aging parents, have a good social circle, volunteer to help others, enjoy and provide a low stress environment to her family. She and people around her would still benefit greatly from her education.

OP, it seems you truly wasted your education.

[Anonymous]

If she wants to get her M.R.S. then, college is a good place to look for one. Also, if she gets a divorce she will need an education to fall back on, or if the husband doesn't wind up earning much/falls ill/etc.