Kasi, I married young and I give my blessings to anyone who chooses that path in life if they are mature enough to take it seriously. However, my hubby and I dated for 2 years before getting engaged, and it took us another year to plan the wedding. Even if you met Mr. Wonderful today, marriage would still be years away. Use that time wisely.
Is college for everyone? Nope. But don’t base that decision on wanting to be a stay home mom. Life doesn’t always go as planned. My sister didn’t plan on being a single mom until her hubby of 9 years left her and their daughter for his long term g/f. She had to figure out a way to support herself. Afterall, she is Catholic. She couldn’t go looking for another man to marry or play house with. In the eyes of the Church, she is still married. The sacrifices she had to make were unbelievable. A degree would have improved the quality of her life immensely.
One of my best friends was a SAHM with a loving Catholic husband and two beautiful sons. They lived a charmed life until tragedy made her a widow at 32. Her college degree (nursing) allowed her to find a well paying job with a flexible schedule. She was able to remain in their home, continue home schooling their sons and devote all of her energy into her family, not some boss who only cared about the bottom line.
Another of my friends is a SAHM. Her hubby was laid off and has been unable to secure a comparable job. They had to move from their beautiful home to a tiny 2 bedroom apartment in the bad part of town. Talk about humbling. Now that all of her children are in school during the day, she has decided to use her degree and become a substitute teacher. That way she can supplement their income, be on the same schedule the children are and not have to worry about bringing work home with her. God willing her hubby will be able to find a good job soon. Until then she will be able to help pay the bills and set aside some savings so they aren’t stuck in that terrible place indefinitely.
Think a devout Catholic SAHM doesn’t “need” an education? Think again. Go to school. Expand your horizons. Learn as much as you can about the world around you. You’ll discover much about yourself in the process. Pray for the life you do want, but prepare for the life you don’t. That way you can handle anything life throws at you, “for better and for worse.” It will make you a better person, a better wife and a better mother to all those beautiful Catholic babies you plan on blessing the world with.