Would you be ok if your child grows up to be blue collar worker?

[Anonymous]

Considering how snobby everyone on the board is, what if your child grows up to end up working at Walmart as a cashier or becoming a plumber?

Or what if he grows up to become a cop?

What will you do?

[Anonymous]

Cop, plumber, firefighter - yes of course

Cashier at Walmart- probably not. My family is very blue collar and I’ve worked hard to establish a career that isn’t retail focused.

[Anonymous]

Those are three completely different professions, first of all.
But to answer your question— if my kid is happy, and if he’s making enough money to save for his future, then whatever he does is ok by me.

[Anonymous]

I'd be pissed if I just spent 4 yrs of paying for (expensive) college tuition when kid could've gone to a vocational school instead.

[Anonymous]

Plumber. Yes. Firefighter. Yes.

Retail but not on a management track? No. There's little future in most companies.

Cop. No. Too many cops are total A$$holes. I wouldn't want my child surrounded by them and depending on them.

[Anonymous]

Working as a cashier is way different than being a plumber. I would be disappointed if DS were only a cashier because it's such a low wage job. Also, i dont think he could be fulfilled at that job.

A plumber, especially one who is self employed, can make a very good living. It's also a job that can be satisfying for someone who likes mechanics.

Blue collar: great. Retail worker scanning items 8 hours a day at a cash register, paid a low hourly wage: not so great.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't be happy if I didn't see him/her getting much out of what I spent on their education.

[Anonymous]

I am fine with either kid doing whatever.

I don't view college as some kind of investment I'm making and I know people who have done very well with a 2-year degree, others who went to school (and then back, and then again) who have relatively low-paying jobs.

I would like them to be kind, honest, and responsible people who can support themselves. If they do that in a blue collar job, fine by me. I've had many blue collar jobs myself.

[Anonymous]

If my children are happy and can support themselves, I’ll be fine.

[Anonymous]

Plumber, maybe. Walmart worker, no.

I was pondering this same thing yesterday actually. I happened to be sitting next to a white (appreared to be) middle class family. They were talking over the two hours about lots of different things. I was trying to figure out where they were from. They talked about cruises they've been on, friends who spend too much on drugs, an overweight relative who was so big that he had to be taken out a window when he died. They used words like ain't and just sounded very low class. My stereotypical impression of white people like this is that they are lower to middle class blue collar workers who I have nothing in common with. I'm sure they were very nice, and Yrumo never came up, but we just live in different worlds. I can't understand theirs and they can't understand mine. Not do we want to, I'd bet.
I would not want my kid to grow up to be a guy who smokes and wears t shirts that have sayings about beer and boobs and whose main form of travel is a cruise. This is why I don't cruise. I'm afraid it will be full of people like them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am fine with either kid doing whatever.

I don't view college as some kind of investment I'm making and I know people who have done very well with a 2-year degree, others who went to school (and then back, and then again) who have relatively low-paying jobs.

I would like them to be kind, honest, and responsible people who can support themselves. If they do that in a blue collar job, fine by me. I've had many blue collar jobs myself.

You're a very progressively-minded parent PP.

[Anonymous]

No. I would be disappointed if my children ended up pursuing such unintellectual jobs.

[Anonymous]

Plumber, electrician, or other skilled trade would be great. My dad was a union electrician, and he made a very good living and has a secure retirement.

Cashier or other unskilled labor would be a disappointment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd be pissed if I just spent 4 yrs of paying for (expensive) college tuition when kid could've gone to a vocational school instead.

The way to avoid this is to raise your kids knowing vocational school is a valid option that you’ll support. Don’t try to dissuade them if they say (in 12tg or 12tg grade) that’s what they want. My cousin makes $100k for Verizon, no degree. DH has a PhD and makes $98k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be pissed if I just spent 4 yrs of paying for (expensive) college tuition when kid could've gone to a vocational school instead.

The way to avoid this is to raise your kids knowing vocational school is a valid option that you’ll support. Don’t try to dissuade them if they say (in 12tg or 12tg grade) that’s what they want. My cousin makes $100k for Verizon, no degree. DH has a PhD and makes $98k.

Sorry, 11th or 12th. I have fat thumbs.