As most of you know... I lost my job on June 4th due to.... misconduct... on my part.

I look back over the college education I had and honestly I am disgusted. I never graduated in my field of study, and dropped out twice. However I always kept myself very busy with work and never had much time for college. Being unemployed has drastically changed my situation, as you could likely guess. I now discover I have plenty of time to go back to college and finish my degree, save for the problem of.....you guessed it..... money.

My wife, creative as ever, has come up with what she feels is the perfect solution. By an act of irony (or truly God has a sense of humor) the very company that dismissed me called her and is offering her a job doing essentially the same thing I was doing. This would mean our money (we lived paycheck to paycheck, but we were by no means poor) would stay the same. The only difference is my wife would work full time, and I would attend the University full time. Those on here that actually know anything about me individually know I'm a bit old-fashioned. In my mind, the male in the relationship is expected to be an honourable man and support his mate if possible.

No doubt, this causes a personal conflict for me. Now here are the stakes. I have an opportunity to go to law school, either in Athens, GA or Tallahassee, FL. If I let my wife have her way, she can bring in the money while I finish my degree, then its off to law school. After I graduate, I will seek a position as a Prosecutor (I wish to avoid Defense like the plague). Doing so will secure both of our futures for a long time.

But.... I don't want to dump the workload off on her while I get a free ride (Although I'll be slaving my ass off for the next 2 years, plus 3 years of law school). I want to get at least a part-time job to supplement our income. Most will remember I still live at home (Yes Totse, I am 24 and live at home). My father is terminally ill, and my wife helps care for him while hes around. If Athens accepts me and not Tallahassee, we'll have to move, whereas Tallahassee is reasonable driving distance. I feel if I let her have her way, I'm failing in my vows as a husband to support and uphold her...

I hate to say this, especially to Totse... but I don't know what to do.. I'm torn between "being a man" (although I would have to sacrifice law school), and higher education (although I'd be dumping the breadwinning on my wife). She is perfectly happy to work a 40+ hour workweek to allow me to finish school.

....*sigh*..

You're still supporting her emotionally if not monetarily. You should take this opportunity to get your shit together. Go to school and then when you actually start makin the money make sure she quits her job and start repayin her with gifts and shit. meh just an idea.

times are changing grandpa, welcome to the new century.

women are independent, however they do still have that glass ceiling thing.

anyways, dont think about it like you're not doing anything. in the long run, this is for you guys. you're probably ganna be supporting a family soon and you need this, if you're living from paycheck to paycheck now, when you have a family it's going to be even tougher.

if you believe you can do this, then do it.

OP, there is no reason for this to even be an issue. If your wife agrees, nothing has been "dumped" on here.

If your male ego is taking a beating, it is probably good for you. Your ego is not your friend.

__________________
"In what concerns divine things, belief is not appropriate. Only certainty will do. Anything less than certainty is unworthy of God." -- Simone Weil

Yeah, it really sounds like a brilliant plan. You'll allow yourself a better future for your family and you won't have to regret never finishing your education the rest of your life.

I'm the same way you are but jeez, you only get a chance that great once.

I dont think I could -ever- let a woman put me through college. Or even just covering my part of the bills.

But that doesnt mean that you shouldnt. If its a girl you plan on marrying, then you have to look at yourselves as a single entity. Whats the best way for the couple to make the most money, be the most successful, and get the furthest ahead in life. And chances are...that would be law school.

YOUR A BUM BLUDGER

murder/suicide

I feel the same way you do, but if it were me I'd swallow my pride, take 25 credit hours every semester and finish as fast as I could, get my law degree, and let my wife sit around and relax for the rest of her life.

Remember, law school is only there to prepare you for the bar exam. If you work your ass off and learn enough to pass it, you don't need tons of law school.

If she was just a girlfriend Silent, then maybe... but I've already married her. I really struggled over allowing her to do this, but she basically pleaded with me for the chance to do it. I could not in my heart call myself a good husband and refuse my wife one of the only things shes ever asked of me.

Today I went job hunting, and I believe I found two small wage, part-time jobs. One of them is temporary, delivering phone books to businesses, getting paid per book delivered. The other one is about $6.50 an hour and it is working in a store called Burbon Street Candy Shoppe. They have everything from fudge, to ice cream, to candy bars, individual pieces of candy... even chocolate with liquid Jack Daniels inside. They will throw another .25 cents on per every 3 months of employment, plus the owner apparently has a history of adding to the payrates of dependable employees. With my wife making $9.00, and me $6.50, its still over $15 an hour combined. I'm applying for Student Aid and Federal Aid to get through the University, plus I'll take out student loans if necessary (DEFINATELY once I get to law school).

The average starting salary for a prosecutor is more than enough for us to build a home and live happily. Since there will not be any children in the picture (Her idea, I agreed to it for medical reasons), it means we are free to use the money we WOULD have spent on kids can go towards other things (New cars, home remodeling, investing in savings options, vacations, etc..)

This is my vow to all of Totse: If I ever made it out of Law School AND pass the BAR exam, I'm sending $100 to everyone who supported my marriage back when it was just an Internet relationship. No need to name names, you know who you are

And... ok guys. I'll put aside my ego and let her do it... for my sake, as well as hers.

never mind the $100, how about free representation in court if i get busted selling teh rawks??