<p>If the Mom was a friend of mine, and she bought the subject up to me - which is how I interpreted the OP - I might have said to the Mom “How do ya’ll (parents) feel about that?”. Then depending on how my friend responded, I might tentatively offer my opinion, or very briefly discuss what we are doing. </p>
<p>I grew up in an area much like what the OP describes. I was the 3rd or 4th person in my extended family to go to college, and the first to not go the CC route. I was the first whose parents could afford for me to have a choice. We’ve had a couple more since me (my extended family is rather small), they have all done the CC thing, until my D, who has gone far away.
Don’t underestimate what Historymom says about being “stuck” - I’m the only person in my extended family to live more than 20 miles from my original home, the only one to select a career - the area is dying economically.</p>