I have been taught to look upon those means, by which men raise themselves to riches and distinction, as being beyond my heeding, and beneath my care. I have been, as the phrase is, liberally educated, and am fit for nothing. — Barnaby Rudge
My Take – One of the struggles I have with my kids is trying to convince them to learn skills that will feed them when they can no longer depend on me. Yes, I also like reading sonnets, looking at expressionist art, and doodling on blogs as much as the next guy, but that doesn’t keep the lights on. Learning a marketable skill will go a long way toward putting food in your belly. History is littered with educated paupers, and I would rather that my children don’t add to their number.
DaddyBear’s Den 
Old NFO
/ December 9, 2012Concur with that, and thankfully, mine ARE making their own way…
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heroditus huxley
/ December 9, 2012I teach writing, and write. I knit. I keep house. I raise my two.
I don’t know that I can do real work. I’m going to be booting both kids out to part-time jobs as soon as they’re legal to work (and possibly mowing neighborhood lawns before that) so that they can learn the value of earning a better living.
I hope they go into something productive. As much as I love my English degrees, I wish to heaven I was better at practical things that could earn a living.
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daddybear71
/ December 10, 2012Sounds like you’re on the right track. I didn’t mean to disparage an English degree, so long as its holder finds a way to make it a productive degree.
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heroditus huxley
/ December 10, 2012That’s the problem: it’s really not. Neither is the writing, not yet, and maybe never.
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daddybear71
/ December 10, 2012Eh, I’ve read some of your writing, and you seem to be doing well. Some day it will pay off. From what I’ve been able to read of The Godshead, you’re on the right track.
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Auntie J
/ December 11, 2012I also studied English. I’m finally actually doing something with all that studying. It means I’m currently buried in 87,000 words of novel manuscript, the edited and polished copy of which is due in nine days, but I love editing, so I’m really enjoying what I now do. My blog lets me have a creative outlet of sorts.
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