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I don't think that this lack of family values is anything new. Every generation complains that there is a lack of values in society. It is not the fault of liberals or conservatives that our lives are challenging. I think that we have to realize we are all sold a "bill of goods". By this, I mean we've been told promises that may not be true. If you are a woman you are promised that if you get married, stay home and have children, and keep house, that you will be happy. While this works for many, it doesn't work for all. Besides, life gets in the way.
Perhaps you are told that in order to be of value, you must have a husband, you must earn money, so you have a career, sooner or later children. This also proves to be inaccurate.
You can't have everything. You need to sometimes sit down and sort out what you have and what you want-- not what somebody else tells you you should have or want. If you need to quit that job, give up some material things and a big house, do so. If you need to go to college and get a job, do so. I see couples where both MUST work to support their little families because their wages are low. You can still be good parents. I see couples where both MUST work to support a lifestyle they don't need. We pretty much dig the holes we live in, but at some point you have to say, hey, what is it that is important to me? If you are lucky, you already have things sorted out before you put yourself into debt and have kids that you have no time for.
Before our three girls thought seriously about college, I told them to think about getting married and having kids. You can't really be anything you want when you grow up either because of talent, money, or other wants that you have. Will you be able to work at this job part time? Will you be able to take a year or a few years off from this job to raise your kids at least till school age, then return to the job? Could you support yourself and a couple of kids on this salary if you had to? Instead of deciding for our kids whether they should have careers, live in the city, or homeschool their kids, we need to help them establish long term goals, such as juggling work and family.
As for the woman who has the McMansion and animals she doesn't enjoy, she is absolutely correct. She is not ready to be a parent. She needs to sort out her life, her marriage, her real needs. When she does that she may not need the mansion or chickens (or husband). When she does, she can begin a new life that may or may not include children.
Perhaps you are told that in order to be of value, you must have a husband, you must earn money, so you have a career, sooner or later children. This also proves to be inaccurate.
You can't have everything. You need to sometimes sit down and sort out what you have and what you want-- not what somebody else tells you you should have or want. If you need to quit that job, give up some material things and a big house, do so. If you need to go to college and get a job, do so. I see couples where both MUST work to support their little families because their wages are low. You can still be good parents. I see couples where both MUST work to support a lifestyle they don't need. We pretty much dig the holes we live in, but at some point you have to say, hey, what is it that is important to me? If you are lucky, you already have things sorted out before you put yourself into debt and have kids that you have no time for.
Before our three girls thought seriously about college, I told them to think about getting married and having kids. You can't really be anything you want when you grow up either because of talent, money, or other wants that you have. Will you be able to work at this job part time? Will you be able to take a year or a few years off from this job to raise your kids at least till school age, then return to the job? Could you support yourself and a couple of kids on this salary if you had to? Instead of deciding for our kids whether they should have careers, live in the city, or homeschool their kids, we need to help them establish long term goals, such as juggling work and family.
As for the woman who has the McMansion and animals she doesn't enjoy, she is absolutely correct. She is not ready to be a parent. She needs to sort out her life, her marriage, her real needs. When she does that she may not need the mansion or chickens (or husband). When she does, she can begin a new life that may or may not include children.