Everyone is Talking
About how college isn’t the end-all be-all for our kids.
Why do I care?
With an increasing number of families steering their kids towards community college and kids choosing trade schools over college, it begs the question, why?
Tell me more.
Expenses tend to be a fraction of the cost when a student attends community college and students still have the option of attending a top university after their pre-requisites are wrapped up, making it a win-win financially for the family. Another benefit of the community college route is kids get a little longer at home while spreading their adult wings. According to some experts, where your child goes to college isn’t an indicator of success, so why not allow your kids to consider a less expensive or time consuming option if it’s a good fit for them?
With a shortage in the trades, kids and parents are looking at professions like welding or mechanics as a viable path versus the decades-old push for a four year education. Honors student Railee Nicholson is doing just that by going to a trades school to become a diesel mechanic.
Even though college enrollment is still rising, Tony Carnevale, the director of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce shared that, “40% to 50% of kids never get a college certificate or degree,” – so why not entertain other paths to success?
Menu Planning Mastery
From Meatball Monday to Taco Tuesday and beyond, meal planning is made easier when you have specific themes for your days of the week. It takes some of the guesswork out of your planning and streamlines an otherwise time consuming process. But, what if you don’t want Tacos every Tuesday or Meatballs on Monday? Variety is the spice of life, right?
Over at ‘The Kitchn’ they help you ‘Go Beyond Taco Tuesday’ with 20 additional options for a themed meal day. They even offer you a few fresh recipe ideas for each of these nights so you can up your game a bit. We’re planning to try the following:
- Chicken Ragu with Bacon. Because, they had us at bacon and gnocchi.
- Pork Sandwiches with Onion Jam. We’ll feed the kids PB&J, because…#keepingthingsreal
- Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowls. For when you don’t live near a Chipotle.
The Kids are Alright
How do you become a safe haven for your kids – a place where they can land when life is confusing, hard or scary? Rachel Macy Stafford of The Hands Free Revolution is offering up her perspective on the topic along with a free e-book. In the post, Rachel reflects on her experience with her Dad growing up, she shares, “Each day after school from first grade to senior year in high school, I’d stop by my dad’s office. There was an empty chair beside his desk that was always waiting for me. My dad would greet me with a smile and place the cap on his pen. That was my cue. It meant my dad wanted to hear about my day. Most of the time, I talked about little things, but as I grew, I trusted my dad with big things. He was my safe place. He was my refuge.”
She shares a quote by David W. Augsburger that wrapped up her perspective nicely, “Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable.”
Grab Rachel’s e-book, “Words That Can’t Wait” for free. She says it was created out of urgency after she was contacted by an 8th grader who was having suicidal thoughts and he didn’t feel he could talk to his parents. She offers this e-book as a resource for parents to encourage more conversations that help your child know you are their place of refuge if they need it.
Hack it Up
When you’re on travel with little ones, it can be difficult to decide what to bring along and what you can live without, especially when it’s a longer trip. A concierge may just be the answer to your travel prayers. From toys to essential gear, there are companies that can help you out. The FourieFam recently reviewed Babierge on their YouTube channel and it looks like an amazing sanity saver. This particular family has five kids, two of which are under the age of two. They are currently traveling all over the U.S. as a family and need all the help they can get.
Budget Lockdown
Teaching kids about money is a challenge. How do we give them an understanding of all the ins and outs that budgeting, bills and saving entail? How do we teach them the value of a dollar and to work hard for what they have?
Mom Lynn Brooks has implemented a strategy that has people talking. The concept includes her daughter Londyn working daily chores for pay. If there is more required than normal, she receives ‘overtime’. Each Friday, the money earned is tallied and a paycheck is given. From that paycheck, she pays her ‘bills’ – power, water, internet and then contributes to her savings in a ‘vault’. She can spend her remaining budget as she sees fit, including at a ‘store’ her mom stocks at home. Lynn says of the strategy, “…Not only is my daughter learning responsibilities, she’s also learning her math in the process thereof. If she gets in trouble, she will have to forfeit a weeks’ pay.” She goes on to say, “My daughter is confident, learning, and is improving so much.”
Parting Thought
Drew Barrymore is the real deal. When out with friends recently, a fan made an assumption that wasn’t quite on point when she said, “Well, you’re expecting, obviously.” To which she replied, “No, I’m just fat right now.”
She’s our hero.
ICYMI – this post on our Facebook page is getting a bit of attention. It’s a video that features two young women at a concert, and near the end, you see a guy plop something into one of the drinks the girls are holding. Presumably, he’s trying to drug her without her realizing it. It’s a reminder that we need to chat with our kiddos about safety when out, while drinking, and otherwise.
Did we miss a great story? Email us at theparents@trendingparent.com