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

[Anonymous]

It’s complicated. My cousin graduated from an Ivy League school, the only one in our generation in the family. Everyone else went to state schools, then grad schools and is now in white collar occupations. She, however, is running a business, the essence of which is that she buys certain things and she sells certain things, very blue collar type. Theoretically, she wouldn’t need any college degree, let alone one from an Ivy, to do that. However, I suspect that the smarts and the work ethic that brought her to an Ivy are the same smarts and the work ethic that allowed her to build the business that pays for a nice house, private schools for the kids, etc. She employs her husband in her business too.

[Anonymous]

My contractor has a a BS in business from a good state school. He runs his own small business and employs two or three workers and also hires sub contractors for various jobs.

He can also do pretty much any of the work involved in the jobs I’ve hired him for. I’ve seen him get in there and do the labor when things aren’t being done to his standards.

He has the college education, but he also has the knowledge and skills to do the actual work. I think in the future, people will need a mix of hands on and intellectual skills to set themselves up in situations that can’t be sent out to overseas workers. Plumbing and electrical work can’t be done from afar.

[Anonymous]

I'd be happy with plumber/electrician etc. The last time I called an electrician, it was $200 for 1 hour of work. There are business expenses but that sure adds up quick.

I would not be happy with bartender or cashier etc. Those are skill-less dead end jobs that anybody can do.

[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.

+1000

[Anonymous]

My ex was a well paid plumber who hurt his back and now he can’t work as a plumber anymore. I wouldn’t encourage our DS to do any involving manual labor. My brother has had multiple surgeries on his shoulders and back due to his very physical job. He is in pain on a daily basis yet still has to work. No thanks no want something else for my son.

[Anonymous]

My dh is a manager in retail and makes more than my GS-15 salary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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?

Feel like I failed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?

Feel like I failed.

Failed what? Is there some exam? How is having an adult child that works for a living a failure?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No.

My DS and DD are, for lack of a more delicate way of saying it, better than that. Part of it is breeding/bloodline, part of it is familial expectations, and part is educational opportunities. But the summation is that neither will do service industry or blue collar work. That would be like using a Tiffany lamp to light a toolshed. It just doesn't happen.

Your poor kids.

+1000

Wow.

[Anonymous]

I'm fine as long as my kid can support herself, is doing honest work that isn't illegal, and is happy.

Of course I have a friend who said, "Larla isn't doing anything like theatre professionally. She's getting a STEM PhD." This was about her 3 year old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I know this was posted years ago, but this is such a narrow view of life. There are big buCks in upper retail management and corporate jobs. DH works in that industry, and I have other HS friends who also work in retail - we often joke that it’s the career no one tells you about. I have an STEM career, and all of their paycheque blow mine out of the water.

Retail focused meant working the floor/register, an hourly employee who often doesn't work full time and doesn't have 401k plan etc. Upper management and corporate retail isn't blue collar.

[Anonymous]

I would like my child to have a profession, so a plumber is not better/worse, than a lawyer, doctor, teacher, whatever.

Cashier, I wouldn't be thrilled, but not going to change how much I love him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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?

If your kid is an adult there isn't anything you can do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blue collar public employee here with a nice higher-end home paid for, great retirement and over a million in cash and investments. Education: Community College. Proof you can live the dream as a blue collar worker.

My friend's dad is a plumber, working for the gov't. Mom has a similar union job. He put his kids through private schools and private college without any financial aid and lives a nice life in retirement.

[Anonymous]

Probably. We are white collar, advanced degrees. We are really mindful and appreciative of the sacrifices our blue collar grandparents made for us and how far we have come in two generations. If kid was a plumber I would only be ok if he owned the company and was growing it into a chain.
I always wonder if parents who spend a fortune on college for their kids get annoyed when the becomes a SAHM. I also feel his way for certain professions. A four year degrees from a 2nd tier state school will get youbthe same teaching job and salary as an Ivy League teaching degrees that cost 4 times as much. No way would I spend the money on a teaching degree either for kid at a top school.