Is it important for women to have something to fall back on?

Question

Okay, I know a lot of moms stay home with their kids while their husbands work. I'm not trying to start a debate on that subject though. I'm just wondering if you think that all mothers should have something to fall back on if something should happen later on down the road. I think it is. My husband was born with a defect in his back; it can go out anytime. Now, unless his back goes out in the next year (knock on wood, keeping my fingers crossed, praying very hard it doesn't), we will be okay when that does happen. What do you think? Should we try to have experience in one field or another in case something happens later in life? What about some type of degree?

Mandi, I'm actually going for nursing...lol. I'm taking CNA courses this summer and then going to a vocational school this fall to become an LPN....then going back once again to become an RN.

Oh we've got insuarance (life and disability) but that only goes so far. My mother in law is on disability and gets around $800 a month. There's no way I could do that...

Answer 1

I agree with you on the disability thing. My sister-n-law gets $900 a month.

I also agree with you on the rest. I stupidly got married right out of high school to a boy I barely knew. I though the idea of being married and having kids was fun, and didn't realize it was actually work. (LIVE AND LEARN!) I found myself 18, pregnant, only a high school education and getting a divorce. My mother gave me the best advice: A woman needs to always have a back up. Don't ever depend on anyone else to support you or your kids. Especially not a man. Marriages come and go, and you need to have a career and an education to fall back on.

She paid for me to go to college and get a certification in dental assisting. I worked my way up from the bottom, but I know that even if my marriage were to fall apart, I have something to fall back on. It might be hard to raise 2 kids on just my income, but at least I am not stuck getting paid minimum wage because I only have a high school diploma or a GED.

Answer 2

I do agree. I am a stay at home mom. I hope nothing ever does happen to my husband. If something should ever happen i do have a degree in cosmetology which "Some people" on here said that it was a joke and what would i do work at wal-mart for 9 bucks an hour? (Some reject emailed me saying that)
However i could work in a salon and also i do have an inheritance that i get so much of each month.
While i went to school i did think about becoming a Veterinary Assistant which i had almost completed but i can always go back to finish that up. I only liked 6 weeks of getting my certificate. (It takes only 30 weeks to get it)

Even if i did not ever work my son and i would be taken care of because of the money that is put back and my son has a trust fund when he turns 18 he will get so much then 21 some more then it ends at age 25 for him.

I want to say that having a degree in cosmetology is something to not frown upon and some people that loves to put others down should not make fun of someone in that profession.
(I agree with the person above me about the whole SAHM, why not spell it all the way out?)

Answer 3

Y'know, that's pretty much what life insurance exists for.

And, pfft to "get a degree." I and loads of other well-educated housewives* are largely unemployable. I doubt my mother's university education in philosophy would make her, decades after the fact and with no work experience, terribly appealing to the normal sort of employer. Sure, it does give evidence of at least a bit of brain, but.

It's a nice idea, but there aren't many things that remain valuable skills over time if they're unused.

Obviously not much of a concern for somebody who stays home for four years and goes back to her old job when her one child hits jr kindergarten, but. I'm the oldest of four; the youngest is 14 yrs younger than me, and...re. 'nursing' above, I don't know much about the profession, but how in demand are nurses who've been out of practice for decades?

I think the thing to do is insure the father to the point where if something happens, Mum's got the house paid off and can afford to spend a few years being a student.

More important, I think, is that the stay-at-home mother does little things to prevent her brain from turning into Sesame Street-addled applesauce. I'm very tired of seeing 'SAHM' so frequently associated on-line with people who can't spell. Mothers of the world: please keep your daily newspaper subscriptions paid up!

* Primarily. I do a little p/t freelance writing/researching/editing stuff; I'm working in anther window right now, at midnight. But that's for sanity, not money.

Answer 4

That's a really good question! I think it's really up to that person, but knowing that the divorce rate is now over 50%, I would have a back up...I am working on that right now! Getting my nursing degree and I could stay home if I wanted to,because my husband makes enough to support us....but I think the whole idea of being independant is cool too.....

Answer 5

I do think it's best for a woman to have something to fall back on as far as a career, especially if you want to maintain a carefree lifestyle should anything happen, whether it be an injury, a divorce, or even god forbid, a death. Of course, there are entry level jobs that don't require too much in the way of skills. If you had to, you could do that to survive. If you have the opportunity to keep your foot in the door of a career while raising your family, that would be your best bet. Life can turn on a dime. Be as prepared as you can.

Answer 6

Why not take an online course in Medical Transcription or something so that if anything did happen you could get a job and with a degree like that it is possible that you could work from home through a doctors office. I will keep your husband in my prayers too. Hope this helps.

Answer 7

I fully agree with you. I actually find it kind of sad when a person is with someone but feels they have to be there BECAUSE they don't have anything to fall back on. I would hate to be in that situation. I'm a SAHM with a degree and actively pursuing another--hopefully in the summer semester. Women need to stand up for themselves. I mean what if something horrible were to happen to my husband? What if he suddenly passed away? If I didn't have a degree I'd have to start over from scratch that would be soo hard. I'm glad I do have my degree. I'm glad I'm prepared for the future "just in case" something were to happen. I think women owe it to themselves not to accept a man to just "take care of them." It's important for us to reach our dreams too...

Answer 8

I definitely believe that is a good idea...I am a stay at home mom but I did go to school and get my nursing degree...I worked for a few years and since I had my two youngest have been a stay at home mom...but I always know that if I need to work to support my family I can always get a decent job. Good Luck!

Answer 9

Nursing license would be something excellent to fall back on. The health benefits you would receive would be some of the best by far, and it's something you can always do because it will always be in demand. It's not like they can send those jobs overseas too...

Answer 10

this is very important. i believe some women don't think about this they think they will be taken care of forever and that their husband will be able to take care of them forever. not only can your husband have a injury but he could also spring a divorce. i seen a horrible story about a woman who was married living this wonderful life with her new husband who was making way more money than her at her manager job at a fast food restaurant, so she quit her job and eventually she didn't even pick up the bills, just set them aside for her husband to pay. one day he wanted a divorce, unexpectedly and out of the blue, and they were in soooo much debt she didn't even know about it. she lost everything. i think women should continue education while at home with the kids. and also have money set aside, like a seperate savings from her husband. its so stupid to just let him take care of it all but so many women do it.