Relationship

Mom – What could you do with the new federal scholarship money available to all mothers?

By now, you may have heard of the enormous amount of money the federal government spends to get people like you to start school, go back to school, or stay in school. You undoubtedly know that people with education beyond high school earn more money over the course of their lives and generally stay employed longer during periods of economic downturn. You know people who have good benefits at work, like health care and retirement. Learn about all the economic benefits of obtaining the diploma or certification you need.

If that’s not enough motivation for you, consider the intangible benefits. These are things like your own enhanced feelings of optimism and worth and gaining a sense of control over your life. Having a goal (not just a dream) builds structure in your daily life and gives you a sense of purpose. Having obligations to your time and energy also motivates you to be more organized and to focus on what really matters to you and your family.

Another of those intangible benefits is the effect of all this on your children. Instead of feeling like you are neglecting them by doing this yourself, you are probably changing the way they view you and the world around them. They begin to accept some responsibilities at home and their own school work, for their own organization because they have realized that what you are trying will help them in the long run. It can also inspire them to follow your example and take their own education more seriously.

It’s good to remind yourself that President Obama grew up watching his own mother make sacrifices to earn her degrees. She got up at 4 in the morning to study and expected him to do the same. She used her education to help herself and her family, but she also used it to help many other women lift themselves out of poverty and begin to help themselves and their own communities. It is an inspiring story for any Mother in difficult conditions to reckon with.

Granted, very few kids grow up to be presidents, but many kids attribute their own success to having to learn self-discipline and commitment to bigger goals at an early age. And that’s the biggest intangible benefit a mother can bring!

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