It’s a wonderful thing to be a stay-at-home mom and raise your children. Many families aren’t able to survive on one income, so if you’re one of the lucky few who can, be sure you appreciate it. As a stay-at-home mom, it can be tempting to not finish your college education. After all, you don’t need a degree to change diapers or pack school lunches. But the fact of the matter is a college education is something you just can’t live without in this day and age.
Here are some reasons why:
You May Need to Provide
Although your husband might be the bread winner right now, life can sometimes have unexpected challenges. Your husband could get injured and no longer be able to work in his chosen field. Or even worse, he could die, and you’d have to step up to the plate and take his place providing for your family. Getting a good-paying job can be extremely difficult if you’ve been out of the workforce for many years like most moms have been, and even more difficult if you don’t have a college education. Even if you’re smart with your finances and have a contingency fund set up for emergencies, making ends meet with an entry-level job would likely still be very difficult. You might be able to make it work for the short-term, but in the long run it would be difficult to promote without a degree.
You Can Work When Kids Get Older
While younger children require a lot more day-to-day care, once they’re in school you may notice you have some free time on your hands. Many moms return to the work force part-time so they can feel a sense of accomplishment from a day’s work, and enjoy the camaraderie of working with other adults. Instead of taking the first low-paying job that comes along, with a college education you’d be able to accept a job that pays you more for your valuable time, in a field that you really enjoy.
College Teaches Valuable Lessons
Someone once said that the most valuable thing they learned from their college education was how to do something they didn’t want to do, when they didn’t want to do it. College teaches you valuable lessons you can’t get anywhere else. You learn how to collaborate with others, work as a team, positively interact with other adults, and how to discipline yourself.
Getting a college education is never easy, but it’s always worth it. Find a way to get a good education without going into a lot of student loan debt and you won’t regret it. Find programs that work with your current lifestyle, such as non-traditional or online programs. When times get hard, remember your why – your family is certainly the most important thing to you. Keep them secure by expanding your skills and value in the marketplace.
