SAH doesn't support change,
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SAH doesn't support change,
| Sat, 08-26-2006 - 4:58pm |
"SAH doesn't support change, it supports going backwards to the 1950's,"
Statement in a post below.
I wholeheartedly disagree. To me, SAH is a choice. How is that going back to the 1950s, when a lot of women didn't have much of a choice.

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While 20 year olds may be immature (comparatively speaking), I don't think 20 year olds are "dumb as a rock." A smart 40 year old probably was a smart 20 year old who was more than capable of focusing on an education without the distractions of paying bills and caring for children. A "dumb as a rock" 20 year old is probably just as dumb at 40.
Do you have personal experience going to college as a 20 year old with no children? I've done both (education with and without kids), and I find it much harder to concentrate on my studies with a baby to take care of. At 20 I could focus almost all of my energies on being a student.
I do think SAH provides a person with a great opportunity to increase job skills and get more education, but my childless peers who are also working on doctorates for the most part finish more quickly and focus more on career-building activities (publication, conferences, etc.). I in no way regret having my DS before finishing my Ph.D., though, because at 34 DH and I didn't want to wait and then find ourselves unable to have a child. And if I put DS in day care, I could probably finish my Ph.D. and build my career as quickly as my peers who don't have children. But SAH is my priority right now, so I am very glad I have long since finished my BA and MA.
But I do think writing a dissertation without the pressures of coursework won't be as difficult to manage as completing the 40+ courses required for a bachelors' degree. It can be done, of course, but if one has children in addition to taking coursework AND WOH it must be very difficult.
Sabina
Oh, life is a glorious cycle of song,
Wow, I said that all you need is hard work and a HS diploma? Wow, I've said lots of things today I don't remember saying.
I didn't say mechanics don't take classes, I said my dh didn't. That's what you asked, isn't it? He has taken ASE tests, but no classes.
>>But, still, how does that gaining life experience with marriage, motherhood, and time make one a better student - given the time constraints and added responsibility of parenthood?<<
Not sure I can answer that, other than that it has been my experience. I also went to college as an 18 yr old w/ no kids, much easier this time around. It's easier to understand with life experience to back it up.
Like I siad, I can see that the coursework itself may be "easier" because of life experience for some people; my DH is finding that to be true, as well.
But that doesn't change the logistics, the time constraints, and the competing responsibilities that can make going to school, working, and taking care of a family very difficult.
And I never said that *you* made those claims. But that is where this sub-thread started - with the assertion that hard work and a high school diploma were sufficient to earn a living wage and that a college degree, work experience, etc were not necessary.
"He has taken ASE tests, but no classes."
And my point in this exchange was that "education" in any number of forms *is* required to earn a decent living. Demonstrating mastery through certifications, etc is demonstrating a level of education.
ETA: No, I didn't ask if he had taken classes, I asked if he had *training*.
Edited 9/4/2006 8:34 pm ET by jennlfg
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