Why do women get college degrees, just to be stay-at-home moms?

Question

I know a few women who have college degrees, but stay at home...is it a security thing? Like a back-up plan? Two of them say they look back and wish they would have not gone and saved the money for their OWN children's college one day...anybody a SAHM with a yet-to-be applied degree?

(I plan on taking online courses later on, maybe for after all my kids are teens, but right now daddy makes enough for us both.)

I agree, I hate it when both parents work full-time and let other people raise their children...if I had a degree, I wouldn't say, 'Well, I can't give up my career!' Beign a mommy IS a career!

Answer 1

I think in general that society puts a pressure on women (and men but women is topic here) to get a degree whether they truly want to or not. Women are often ridiculed by other women who choose career over being a stay at home mom as not being ambitious enough, smart enough blah blah blah. I think many women obtain a degree they never use (and possibly never had intention to use) so they can shove it in the face of those women who do have that attitude mentioned above.
Personally I wasted a lot of money and time in university because I thought it was expected of me by society. From the 7th grade on it was drilled into us to go to college and if we didn't we would be losers and by the time we are 18 we are so brainwashed with that we go to uni and spend all that money whether we really wanted to or not.
I don't consider the education or knowledge a waste it is just not what I truly wanted to do. If I could turn back time I honestly wouldn't of went.
I didn't marry until I was 26, I never used my degree and made more money in a completely unrelated field than I would of using it. Weird.

Answer 2

What on earth has being a housewife got to do with whether or not you have a college degree? You will still need to work for aliving after you leave college and until you have children, whenever that may be. Many people start their families later in life these days, so a woman may work for some years before she has children. And she may want to go back to work later, some women do. There is, of course, always the possibility that your college degree won't be any use to you when it comes to getting a job anyway. I know someone (a man, incidentally) who got a degree, but was never able to get any work that was relevent to his subject. He eventually started his own small business, which doesn't make a lot of money, but he is happy doing it. However, he loved college and was very happy there, and he would certainly not say it was a waste of time. Going to college is about more than just getting a job when you leave.

Answer 3

Well...it think it matters whether or not they got pregnant right after finishing college or what-not. I think then they do it for more of "when they go to school I can do this" (but after 5 years with a degree and no experience it will be harder to then START a career)

I think that most of it stems from how they were raised....only people with a degree ever amount to anything...you have to have an education in order to be someone...(these are common sayings) I have 3 children and are pregnant AND I'm going to school. WHY? Because I have always wanted to be a Physicians Asst...but I got pregnant before that could happen. We NEED two incomes in order to provide for our children. My oldest was in pre-school while I worked (until his sister was born) and my husband stayed at home while I worked when our youngest was born. I have seen the good and the bad for this. My oldest was more used to a social environment. He's very outgoing and has tons of friends. PLUS he's extremely well adjusted and KNOWS that when I walk out of the room I'm coming back. My daughter never knew this (she's just now old enough for pre-school) When I go to class she's upset and withdrawn because she's never had me away from her for too long. When I get ready to go she begs me to stay with her (even though daddy will be there) and she cries (for an hour some nights he says). Why put her through that? If she had been doing it all along it wouldn't be an issue now. (and yes she's had an hour at church every week where she's not with me and it's still that way).

I think that it's a toss up. day care isn't someone else "raising" your child....they can't punish or instill moral values....they only watch over your children while you work. Mommy and daddy will always be the most important people. My oldest is still the most well-behaved intelligent kid in his class....his best friend (who's mom stayed home with him) gets in trouble everyday, and has been on academic probabtion all year....so staying at home...or putting them in day care doesn't really have an over-all effect as long as the time you have together is QUALITY time.

Now take my sister in law...she completed her degree literally a month before she got pregnant...she planned it that way (not an accident) her husband wants her to work so that they aren't paying for everything on credit cards...but she refuses....she KNEW that she didn't want to work once she had a kid....so why go to college and pay back the school loans when you KNOW that you're never gonna use it. I don't know what possesed her. Maybe she's a weirdo!! LOL

And I don't condemn stay-at-home mom's (because I am one right now) OR working mother's....some women make better mother's when they stay home...and some make better mom's when they work....everyone's different. I don't think that we have a right to judge anyone for their reasons....

Answer 4

I went to a great college and got my degree, but I always knew that I wanted to eventually stay home, raise, kids and take care of my family.

My degree is in music education. I taught for 3 years before we decided that it was the right time for us to have a baby and for me to stay home. I just think of it as a career change. The education, career experience, and skill sets that I have gained allow me to do a better job as a mommy and at home. I'm not saying that other people's lives aren't meant to take a different course. This was just what has been right for me and my family.

Anyway, college wasn't a waste or a back-up, it was integral to developing an approach to life that I'll use no matter what I do, be it a formal career or a daily activity.

*add*
I wanted to add that I know some really good mommies that work outside the home and I admire them for the job that they do. They make good decisions about the care their children recieve when they are away and they make the decision to spend valuable time with their kids everyday. It's not really right to judge what may be right for someone else and their family. I do agree though that it is sad when parents don't make sure that their children have the best possible situation and parenting that they can provide because of any number of reasons.

Answer 5

Most women probably dont expect to stay home forever. Getting a college education is important to some women as it makes them a well rounded person and motherhood isnt the only thing that defines them. I personally think in a perfect world a woman would graduate from college, establish her career for a few years then start a family, but that's in a perfect world.
I think it's a great idea to have a back up plan in case something happens, hubby leaves, hubby loses job, etc. Makes life a little more comfortable.
I'm happy you can be a stay at home mom but for some women it simply isnt possible. I live in Southern California and most families struggle with 2 incomes and would not make it with just one.

Answer 6

I'm a SAHM with degree. So far been home 2.5 years and planning to take further 5 years off.

I've never seen it as a waste as when I undertook the degree who would have known I would be a SAHM? Should my life have not led me here I would still be working full time advancing my career. Furthermore, this was not the reason for my degree, should anything happen to my husband I will always have my education which has always allowed me access to great jobs and high income.

In the meantime I'll be pursuing a teaching degree, part time, in preparation for when my children start attending school full time. Of course there are other jobs I can do at that stage but for me the benefits of the salary, holidays and hours is worth gaining another degree.

Answer 7

It was always my dream to have a degree. We married when I was 18 years old. I earned scholarships that paid for most of my education to a private Christian college. I never really thought about being a stay at home mom until after I was in college. We decided to wait until my senior year of college to get pregnant, so I have not started my career. My degree is in Family Psychology and has helped me so much as a mom. Also, it is nice to know that should the need arise for me to go to work, I'll make more than minimum wage. I do get a few "looks" from people when they find out I have a degree but stay home with our daughter.

Answer 8

It's good to have a back up plan in case your husband can't work for whatever reason. I have a degree and I don't regret it. I'm also a SAHM. I think having a degree will actually help me be a better mom. I've learned so many more things than I would have if I didn't go to college, which means I'll be able to teach my kids that much more about life as they grow up.

I don't think education is ever a bad idea. You never know when you'll use it :)

Answer 9

I have a Bachelors Degree.
Public Relations with an Emphasis in Jornalism for Public Speaking.
I got married last July and got pregnant 3 months later (we wanted to wait a couple of years to have children - but I got pregnant on the pill)
I now have a 3 month old son ... and I plan on staying home with him until he's a year old (or longer, depending on if my husband can make his work schedule around him).
When I do go back to work in a year, I might just work part time (in the morning) at my Father In Laws Law Firm, that way I can bring my son to work if need be.
Also, being a mommy IS a job, a full-time job, a 24/7 job (with no 401k, or paid vacation :) - but it does have benefits! (seeing my baby smile! :) and it's the BEST job in the world! I LOVE being a mommy! I would never, ever, leave my son for 8 hours a day to go back to work. He is my top priority.
But I definitely do NOT regret getting my degree, because I will most likely go back to work full time when my son is in First grade (and in school all day).
Definitely get an education!! I'm glad I got mine out of the way before the baby came!

Answer 10

Eventually the kids grow up and they may want to get into their career field. I am a teacher with a Masters Degree and work full-time. Even if I could afford to stay home, I think I would be thankful I got my degree. It is a bit of back-up in case something should happen.

I did not need my Masters Degree- I always wanted it- for the sake of having it. God knows the pay for it is minimal. However, I have it, it is mine and nobody can take it away.

In my family growing up- my parents had told us, "I am not going to pay for you to go to school so you can drop out..." Guess what? I never dropped out. I finished with a Masters and on the Dean's list all semesters. My husband did not finish college. He works nights and me days. He cares for the baby while I am at work and we change in the evenings. Thankfully, we both have weekends off.

Edit: Some people have to work- it's not a question of wanting someone else to raise their children- it's a matter of making it in our society financially. Homes are expensive, food is now very expensive. Some families- like ours- must have both parents working full-time in order to make ends meet. That's just the way it is until our government realizes how important it is for mom's to be home with their children until the children are in school.