By: Carol Baker

You all have brought some peace to my mind with your comments. My son (home schooled all his life)is about to start 10th grade. I’ve been fretting about what classes and things I need to teach to prepare him for graduation. I have other home school friends who put their kids through so many additional classes to prepare them for college that it takes so much of their summer. I just didn’t know how much to do and my son who is 14 doesn’t have any idea yet if he even wants to go to college. So I feel like you’ve taken some of the pressure off. Most people in my family have never gone to college. After my husband died in 92, I went to a community college for 2 years and I was the 1st of my family. I loved it and got straight A’s. I didn’t stick it out though. I was a lonely young widow with 2 daughters and ready to be married again. And I do agree with those who stated that college grads have an elitist attitude. They look at you in shock if you even suggest that you might not send your child to college. My first husband after leaving the Navy, went onto a trade school to get his A&P license. (Airframe & Powerplant) We couldn’t have planes flying without aircraft mechanics. At least those who are in trades have more physically active jobs and don’t sit at desks all day. That inactivity is really bad on the human body. That is why so many have to go to gyms, jog, or buy tons of equipment to work on at home. At least when people are crawling around in planes, cars, building houses, etc. they are moving. I totally agree though with the age thing. When I was 18 I didn’t even care about going to college. But when I did go when I was widowed at 35 I loved it. I only went the two years, but it helped me get out and took my mind off of grieving for my husband. I haven’t made use of what I learned in a job. In both my marriages I’ve been a stay at home mom. I’ve got much more to say, but I’ll stop for now. Carol