Can you do self-insemination at home ?
Updated: April 30, 2021
Originally Published: April 30, 2021
In just two months, my eldest will be graduating high school. From his early school days, he has struggled to keep his grades above water. School isn’t his passion; sitting in a classroom all day is a challenge for him. There were times I honestly doubted whether he would even make it to graduation.
I’ve always believed in allowing my kids to take responsibility for their education. I refuse to do their homework for them. If they fail to submit their assignments on time and face the consequences, like summer school or repeating a grade, then that’s a valuable lesson in itself.
However, my son is one of the most dedicated individuals I know. He’s simply not cut out for a traditional classroom setting. Currently, he’s busy working at the local dump, collecting trash and spending long days outdoors during his spring break. On weekends, he’s helping his dad with plumbing. That’s where his passion lies—being active, solving problems, and working with his hands.
I recognized early on that college might not be for him, unlike his father and me. When we were raising three kids, we assumed they would all pursue higher education, so we started saving. But life’s twists, like going through a divorce, made saving for college feel almost impossible. With the average cost of public college for out-of-state students hovering around $21,000 a year—and private colleges nearing $37,000—it’s a substantial financial burden.
I graduated from a private institution in 1993. My mother contributed a small amount, but as a single parent of four, she had her limits. I’m still paying off my student loans and will be for several more years.
If my son had expressed a desire to attend college, I would support him fully. However, I’m honestly relieved he’s not pursuing a degree that could lead to a significant amount of debt. I also appreciate not having to take out more loans to assist him.
Even though my ex-husband and I have stable incomes, there are still other children in the pipeline. Life has a way of throwing unexpected expenses our way, making it feel daunting to save for education.
We also want to prioritize saving for our retirement, ensuring we’re financially secure and can manage our care without burdening our kids later on.
Should my son decide to pursue college later in life, I’ll be there to help him as much as I can because I believe in his potential. However, it’s a relief not to deal with the stress of loans, grants, and endless paperwork.
I’m grateful he’s making this decision thoughtfully rather than simply following the crowd or feeling pressured to go because his friends are. College tuition is hefty, especially for those attending just to fit in or because they feel parental pressure.
At the core, I want my children to be happy. Whether they choose a technical school, trade school, university, or opt not to pursue further education, I’ll support their decisions. The last thing I want is to push them into a path they might regret later.
My son is becoming a young adult, and he needs to make his own choices and learn from them. When I was his age, I didn’t fully understand the financial implications of borrowing for school, despite all the details laid out before me.
As a parent of teenagers, there’s already so much to manage. Paying for college is a part of that, but it’s been difficult to engage my son in school. There’s no way I’d send an unmotivated learner off to college and watch him accumulate debt. So, I’m not embarrassed to say that having this burden lifted is a relief—for me and likely for him too.
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