<p>In hindsight, I think this is what I needed to do. However, there would have been major, major consequences to this, too. Right now my life is moving a little more slowly than I would like because of my debt, though my boyfriend’s situation compensates for it well-- we’re shopping for a house right now, something I thought I’d be unable to do any time this decade, because he can afford to do it by himself. But there are other things we are going to have to put off until better financial days, things that are traditionally done much, much sooner. </p>
<p>If I had waited to start college until 24, the earliest I could have responsibly considered having children would be 28-- and we all know what a wrecking ball to the career an infant can be for a woman, and in the first few years of that career where I should be getting established and putting in all those extra hours to get ahead, I’d be juggling the responsibilities of parenthood. If I decided to wait until I was a few years into my career (like I am choosing to do now), I’d be well into my 30s already… people are doing that these days, but it’s not for everybody. My parents would probably be dead before they could meet all their grandchildren… that breaks my heart. And I would be hard pressed to ask my partner, who is older than me as it is and ready, to wait for me to be ready to settle down that long. As long as I am able to stay afloat with things as they are now, I am not sure that would have been the better alternative even if it meant less debt. My situation being what it is, my household will be able to afford for me to be a stay at home mom by the time we marry and have kids, because we are not doing it for another several years while we grow our careers and we’re young and theres no rush… I don’t know if I would have ever been able to afford that if I had waited to start my career until I was 28.</p>
<p>I didn’t say my opinions were an ideal option - but rather an absolute last resort for students who otherwise have no way of affording college. Even paying for community college can be out of the question for students who must move out immediately at age 18 and take on adult costs. Chances are, anyone looking at that situation wouldn’t find much help here or even ever come across this site, so obviously it was not a suggestion for anyone here to consider, just a thought that ran through my mind at the moment. </p>
<p>As for the OP, I agree that parenting does not really stop at 18 anymore. Students fresh out of high school (some would still be in high school at 18) cannot just magically up and move out and pay bills. Some weren’t able to work in high school because they didn’t have transportation anywhere - how do they even begin to build a life the moment they graduate with $0? Parenting is for life, not 18 years. That’s not to say you should give your money to your kids for 50+ years, but at least have some desire to help them when they need it most. Of course, not all parents planned to be parents, and they make questionable decisions or do what’s best for themselves, not their kids.</p>