[valkyrieanne]

Also, economically it's getting harder. Think of the prospect of having to come with $100k for your child's college education. It forces people to sacrifice time and attention knowing they are going to have save that much just to get them into a decent college.

Economics is sometimes used as an excuse. Kids don't have to go to college. That's part of the "big lie" of "expensive children," that "every child has to go to college to be successful."

Or, they don't have to go to a four-year college and live away from home. They can take college-credit courses while they're still in high school (for free in some states or reduced-rate in others.) They can go to a community college for two years, and work at the same time. They can finish off at a four-year university and still live at home.

Too many kids are too pressured to live up to some social-prestige ideal. They're even told not to get jobs in high school because it might "take time away from school."

[cupcakes]

I'll agree with you there. I think there is way too much emphasis on the lauded "4 yr degree", particularly on leaving home to get it. Also agree on kids not being given enough responsibility by getting a job so it doesn't "interfere with homework or extracurriculars".