Firebird
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 29, 2010 12:55:06 GMT -5
Posts: 12,452
|
Post by Firebird on Sept 16, 2014 10:49:24 GMT -5
It ended a friendship, she lost custody of her kid, and I wasn't going to go through that again.
@tbird, that sucks but I do know of situations like oped describes that work very well. One of my best friends lived with a good friend of hers after she got divorced. Their kids were about six and seven at the time. They worked opposite shifts, shared childcare and cleaning duties (theoretically) and expenses. It wasn't perfect but they both got much further much faster than they would have done alone.
|
|
Firebird
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 29, 2010 12:55:06 GMT -5
Posts: 12,452
|
Post by Firebird on Sept 16, 2014 10:53:55 GMT -5
Personally, I think brick and mortar colleges are going to start phasing out slowly - because they're rapidly becoming too damn expensive for any but the most affluent/talented/smart kids. They'll still exist, but only for the cream of the crop. Living at school and going to physical classes will be a big time luxury item, like summers in Europe - most students will opt to live at home or with roommates and get their degrees remotely.
Several of my friends have now earned degrees from legitimate universities solely (or almost solely) through online programs. I think that's the wave of the future. By the time Babybird gets to college age, they'll probably want $500 just to tour the campus.
Which sucks because going away to school is a great experience for most kids (I'm the exception to that rule) but it's getting to the point where it's not unusual to pay $80-90k for your typical entry-level degree and that just doesn't make any sense.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 10, 2024 16:21:27 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2014 10:56:29 GMT -5
We have 50+ active families in our homeschool group. Active. Not just looking in, but regularly attending events. It's a huge support system. If I had been single when the kids were younger, I would have made it work.
For that matter, I taught 188 days when I taught. That left 177 I could have logged for homeschooling, making up the three days in evenings or plaid time off... So keeping a full time and homeschooling it all myself.
At at this point, if I was single, I would easily just school around work. They do a lot on their own, and could do more.
Anyway, the idea is that there are options.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 10, 2024 16:21:27 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2014 11:00:15 GMT -5
We have a lot of small charter schools in our area. My boys actually go to the first charter Montessori in the nation. The "middle school" level (7th and 8th grade) is only 33 kids with 6 teachers. More stay at home parents while at the same time single parents are rising? I see a great divide. I have to chuckle a little.....the single parent situation really comes into focus when you end up there, doesn't it? This isn't my first trip down the single parent road. Did it from 2004-2009 too. I've now done it all (I think). Single parent, dual income parent, and SAHP (both with me being the one staying home and with me being the primary breadwinner).
|
|
Firebird
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 29, 2010 12:55:06 GMT -5
Posts: 12,452
|
Post by Firebird on Sept 16, 2014 11:03:13 GMT -5
I've now done it all (I think). Single parent, dual income parent, and SAHP (both with me being the one staying home and with me being the primary breadwinner).
Which was your favorite arrangement, just out of curiosity? Or what *would* have been your favorite, if you had the right partner?
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 10, 2024 16:21:27 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2014 11:14:54 GMT -5
I've now done it all (I think). Single parent, dual income parent, and SAHP (both with me being the one staying home and with me being the primary breadwinner).
Which was your favorite arrangement, just out of curiosity? Or what *would* have been your favorite, if you had the right partner? I'm not sure. I really loved being a SAHM, but that ended when my son was 4 (really 3 because I went back to school part-time). I liked being on top of everything at home, and not having to stress about all the kid issues I do now, but I'm not sure I would have been as thrilled after he headed off to school. Maybe. I hated being the primary breadwinner. Mainly because it wasn't an agreed on thing and my spouse wasn't the best at keeping the place up. I was bitter most of the time.
|
|
Nazgul Girl
Junior Associate
Babysitting our new grandbaby 3 days a week !
Joined: Dec 25, 2010 23:25:02 GMT -5
Posts: 5,913
Today's Mood: excellent
|
Post by Nazgul Girl on Sept 16, 2014 11:58:56 GMT -5
If I was single, I'd move in with/ near one or two other moms and commune / share thing... We'd work around each other's shifts and school/etc together some. Totally doable. Obviously it might not be everyone's choice, but it's definately an option. I wouldn't want to get involved in something like this because every time ( with one exception ) that I got involved in cooperative playgroups and shared child care with other mothers, there were always one or two who took advantage of the other members' time, as in not putting in a fair share of the childcare, not scheduling ahead of time for care, or dropping off more kids ( ! ) than previously agreed. There were also mothers who wouldn't ante up for the trips that were previously agreed upon, or want snacks, etc., of a certain type, and then not pay their share. I would never live in shared space with members not in my family unit unless I knew that they had the wherewithal and the will to pay their ways. There could be so many problems, and I carry no one, unless I volunteer. I've been ripped off before by people I've trusted. Sexist as it sounds, too many women think that because they have a kid or two, the world owes them, and it doesn't.
|
|
Nazgul Girl
Junior Associate
Babysitting our new grandbaby 3 days a week !
Joined: Dec 25, 2010 23:25:02 GMT -5
Posts: 5,913
Today's Mood: excellent
|
Post by Nazgul Girl on Sept 16, 2014 12:03:23 GMT -5
I think that high school in particular is a rite of passage, and would want my child to attend one. I think it helps prep them for later, complicated experiences in life. However, I would not want them to go to a crappy one. I think that if an educated person puts in the time and has the skill level to home school, and is part of a larger group such as Oped describes, homeschooling is a viable alternative to going to school in a building. I believe in public schools, so if I live in a decent area, I definitely prefer to have my kid(s) in public school. A good private school is my second choice, but I could homeschool as well.
|
|