<p>Physicians I know talk about the enormous insurance bills they pay not to mention the student loans they’re repaying. After you do the math, it really comes down to prestige. “My child, the doctor” vs. “my child the plumber”…
My S will most likely study music in college. So, for me it will be “my S the musician”…I’ve always stressed that college is an opportunity to learn more - about yourself. I feel sorry for kids today who are pushed into making career decisions so early. Sure, some will have made their decisions in high school and actually follow through in college but many others use the experience in college to make their choices. Unfortunately, the cost of a college education puts the pressure on them to finish on time.</p>
<p>Sorry if my comments sounded harsh. Re-reading them, they may have been unfair. If you live in a community that is mostly professionals, then it stands to reason that those are the folks who are going to be leading the organizations and teams. I just haven’t lived too many places like that, and I think the majority of Americans are still surrounded by blue collar families. </p>
<p>Anyway, way off topic. </p>
<p>One of the things I sincerly worry about these days is that our country doesn’t really produce anything anymore. In other words, we NEED more folks working with their hands and producing goods. An economy based on government, health care and pushing paper has to eventually collapse. And I’m afraid ours is on the brink. </p>
<p>A well respected news report the other day said that the two fastest growing areas for jobs in the U.S. are government and health care. That really bothered me when they said that because those two things drain from, instead of add do, the productivity of a society. If we can’t get some production back in this country, we’re doomed.</p>
<p>John.</p>
<p>and get your cuticles dirty! </p>
<p>I really liked this article, and I’m planning to read the book…</p>
<p>"When Matthew Crawford finished his doctorate in political philosophy at the University of Chicago, he took a job at a Washington think tank. “I was always tired,” he writes, “and honestly could not see the rationale for my being paid at all.” He quit after five months and started doing motorcycle repair in a decaying factory in Richmond, Va. This journey from philosopher manqu</p>
<p>For several years I worked with a potter who initially was planning to be an engineer. A very talented guy who loved to cook as well and understood the design of functional cookware as well as artistic pieces. He was able to make a good living but that aside was one of the happiest people I knew and absolutely loved his work. My own father worked in retail and had a menswear and later ladieswear store for over 40 years. He was a fabulous role model for me due to seeing the pure joy and satisfaction he received from his job. My SIL has her own very successful graphic arts company and is the envy of all of our family members (she did not go to school for this, just had the ability to come up with and sell great ideas to others ). In fact, the most successful and satisfied people in my family tend not to be ones who accumulated degrees but rather ones who discovered and cultivated their passions.</p>
<p>*“and honestly could not see the rationale for my being paid at all.” *</p>
<p>This sums up a lot of careers these days. The reason so many are unsatisfied with their work is that they feel caught up in the PROCESS and don’t even know at the end of the day what they actually accomplished. That’s a very bad thing for an employee and leads to poor morale and productivity. Our corporations are afflicted with this culture, not to mention all our governments these days…</p>
<p>There is a LOT to be said for doing something with your own two hands. Some of the happiest people I know do exactly that, and have learned to get by quite well on what they make. Their sense of satisfaction is usually higher than those that make 10 times as much per year. </p>
<p>My mother is one of these people, and she lives to remodel and repair small homes. She’s never made more than 15,000 in a year in her life, but at 67 years old, she’s more satisfied than many who are facing retirement decisions today.</p>
<p>John.</p>
<p>I disagree that healthcare drains–done properly, it helps folks continue to be productive rather than disabled. That is VERY important, even if it isn’t a “product” such as a piece of pottery. The more years of good health people can have, the more folks can follow their passions and improve our world.</p>
<p>Government is also important and unfortunately is having to do a lot of things that used to be done by non-profits who can no longer afford to provide the services.</p>
<p>Following your passions sounds a lot easier than it is for many folks. Figuring out how to live while following your passions can be a delicate balancing act, but is wonderful when it works properly. Hubby has always been happy that he loves his work. He feels sorry for others he sees all around him who don’t love their work. I’m happier now that I’ve formed & am running my non-profit than I was with my prior professions, tho I loved each in turn.</p>
<p>A not-exactly-but kind-of- related article from the Boston Globe:“The Four-Year College Myth - It’s a path ingrained in us: Go to a university right after high school and graduate in four years. But that couldn’t be further from reality. And until education leaders take that into account, too many students will lose out.” [The</a> Four-Year College Myth - The Boston Globe](<a href=“http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2009/05/31/the_four_year_college_myth/]The”>http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2009/05/31/the_four_year_college_myth/)</p>
<p>A not-exactly-but kind-of related article in the Boston Globe:
[The</a> Four-Year College Myth - The Boston Globe](<a href=“http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2009/05/31/the_four_year_college_myth/]The”>http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2009/05/31/the_four_year_college_myth/)
Other info:<a href=“http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/papers/2009/02_middle_skill_jobs_holzer/02_middle_skill_jobs_holzer.pdf[/url]”>http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/papers/2009/02_middle_skill_jobs_holzer/02_middle_skill_jobs_holzer.pdf</a>
[25</a> Highest-Paying Jobs – No College Degree Required](<a href=“http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-766-Changing-Jobs-25-Highest-Paying-Jobs-No-College-Degree-Required/]25”>http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-766-Changing-Jobs-25-Highest-Paying-Jobs-No-College-Degree-Required/)
[The</a> Best Career Opportunities (High-Paying Jobs), College Degree Not Required](<a href=“http://www.citytowninfo.com/studies/best-careers-degree-not-required.html]The”>The Career Opportunities (Possible High-Paying Jobs), College Degree Not Required)</p>
<p>The 25 Highest Paying Jobs article lists jobs that may not require a four-year degree, but many of them require education beyond high school, so the title is a bit misleading.</p>
<p>What I hope for my children is that they can find something they enjoy doing AND can make enough money that they can support themselves.</p>
<p>“I disagree that healthcare drains–done properly…”</p>
<p>Yea, “done properly” (as in preventative), it does contribute. But the way we do it, and the way we combine it with Gov’t programs, it is a huge draw on our productivity. </p>
<p>Anyway, we’re not going to solve all the ills with our country on this board…</p>
<p>Suffice it to say we need more skilled laborers and folks who are willing to work with their hands in this country.</p>
<p>John.</p>
<p>I just think that people should be able to choose to go into whatever profession a) makes them happy and b) for which they have an aptitude. Same thing with volunteering. If you’re terrible at sports, make/have lots of money and very little time, your resources are better used buying snacks for the kids at the end of the game or buying the equipment. If suing is what you do best, then volunteer at a local legal aid clinic. Nobody should be criticized for not finding time to go to their kids’ sports games.</p>
<p>As far as contributing to society or whatever goes, it’s all about how your resources are best utilized. If I were a corporate lawyer that made a lot of money but had very little time at my disposal, I’d contribute financially instead of pulling curtains at my kids’ plays. Parents who have less money and more time at their disposal are best utilized contributing their time. Parents who have very little time and a lot of money are best utilized contributing financially. That’s all. Asking someone who knows absolutely nothing about baseball and/or hates baseball with every fiber of their body to coach their kid’s baseball team is like asking a chicken farmer to raise cows.</p>
<p>“If I were a corporate lawyer that made a lot of money but had very little time at my disposal, I’d contribute financially instead of pulling curtains at my kids’ plays. Parents who have less money and more time at their disposal are best utilized contributing their time. Parents who have very little time and a lot of money are best utilized contributing financially. That’s all…”</p>
<p>Sorry, but I couldn’t disagree more with this statement. Kids don’t understand or appreciate that their “corporate lawyer” dad contributed “financially” but they do understand when they see them pitching in with the other dads in the community.</p>
<p>Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, is more important to a child than their parent’s time.</p>
<p>Take that to the bank.</p>
<p>John.</p>
<p>I’m not going to coach little league. I suck at baseball and I hate baseball. Why should I have to take crap from other parents after being forced into doing something I know absolutely nothing about? I hope your kids understand bullying. You can’t ask Babe Ruth to direct a school play and you can’t ask Stephen Spielberg to coach baseball.</p>
<p>That said, should I ever decide to have kids, I’m pushing them towards the school play, not sports, from a young age. Three generations of terribly un-athletic people in my family seems to indicate to me that we’re missing that gene.</p>
<p>Either way, I’ll try to help out in any way I can, and when people like you don’t appreciate it, I’ll stop helping altogether.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Probably true. </p>
<p>But this is not a black and white issue. ALL troop leaders and coaches are not good parents. And ALL donors are not bad parents. </p>
<p>Further, one cannot say that a parent’s “visible community service coaching time” is better for a kid than “inconspicuous at home swingset time.” </p>
<p>Just because little Timmy’s dad sits in the stands at the baseball game doesn’t mean that Timmy pines for a dad who’s more like the coach. For all we know Timmy is probably very proud of his dad for running the youth group at their synagogue 20 miles away.</p>
<p>It’s really none of our business. And anyone who jumps to conclusions based on what he or she sees through the keyhole view of EC’s is falling short in a parent’s job as role model.</p>
<p>The comment we continually hear from both our D and S (college sr and grad) is that they were so appreciative for conversations that took place at the dinner table. Not the usual “and how was your day” conversations but real discussions about ideas and news political, environmental, academic and even religious in nature. Everybody had a say. We’d discuss, argue, etc. When they try to engage some of their own friends in such a discussion, the reply was often “my family never did that.” Taking time to talk and listen is important to kids, and the sooner started the better. If the discussion flows often and early, there might not be so many surprises when a kid says “I don’t think I want to go right into college after high school” or “I don’t think I really want to major in that subject”.</p>
<p>Yes, our kids have always known that they could discuss any subject & we’d try our darndest to participate (including reading up/watching videos on their latest interest). They have expressed appreciation that we do work at trying to share their interests.</p>
<p>We have also participated in whatever ways we can in their interests–going to their sporting events (coaching when they were VERY little or being team parent when their sports acumen was beyond us), being active parents in all their ECs–going to camp, chaperoning, bringing food, etc. We were sometimes the leaders and other times the followers.</p>
<p>Most parents I know of happy, successful kids played active roles in their kids lives whenever possible. Those who could, contributed financially–most also contributed hours and sweat equity. Non-profits rely heavily on BOTH.</p>