<p>What do you think about a parent working full-time on her child’s college search?</p>
<p>[Moms</a> quit jobs for their child’s college dreams - CNN.com](<a href=“Moms quit jobs for their child's college dreams - CNN.com”>Moms quit jobs for their child's college dreams - CNN.com)</p>
<p>just from the title, I say “ay, ay, ay” or “oy, oy, oy” and that is not even my native or adopted tongue.</p>
<p>edit to add, in all fairness, that I had a flexible work schedule during the college-visit times.</p>
<p>Wow.
On some level I find myself pitying these moms and thier kids.</p>
<p>Couldn’t this just be another of those parenting stories where a reporter finds a somewhat unusual situation and tries to dress it up as a socially significant trend? Doesn’t really seem to be much “there” there.</p>
<p>Even if not, I don’t necessarily see it as a pitiable dynamic. I think at-home moms provide a valuable service to their families. As long as the kid isn’t saying, “Mom, back off!” I returned to work when my oldest was just beginning her college search, and it’s certainly possible for an employed parent to be a helpful resource for the college-bound kid. But if a family can afford to have a parent take time off, and if no one’s boundaries are violated, why not? Some parents may see this as a last opportunity to spend a meaningful amount of time with their children.</p>
<p>Haven’t read the article, but what’s the essential difference between a parent doing this, and hiring a college counselor, esp a pricey one? BTW, the women I know who have used private counselors are all SAHM’s!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I remember the one NY Times article that almost accused the female students at UNC Chapel Hill of being desperate sluts. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Not much, actually. Honestly, as long as it works out alright in the end, I don’t care exactly what parents do to help their children get into college as long as it doesn’t involve felonies.</p>
<p>Well, I just decided (and happily my life accomodated) to make my S’s college application process one of my major after work actvities for a time. This was very workable, for two reasons. (1) My SIL, an attorney, agreed to be “editor in chief” of the application essays. (2) My H, a math professor, helped “vet” some of the colleges/programs S was interested in by speaking with his colleagues. As it turns out, H worked with a faculty member at Northwesterm U who was one of the founding members of their honors Integrated Science Program, some 30 + years ago. This is the program my S will be attending in the fall.</p>
<p>I think it must take a well heeled family for one parent to take that much time off to shepherd the process. In most cases, it’s probably not necessary … but each family makes their own choices.</p>