Many of you have had some interesting jobs! I can't say I have had any job that I could even characterize as "worst." For the most part, most of my time was spent in in air conditioned buildings, I didn't get too dirty (except packing supplies and taping boxes ruined my hands and some many a pair of Hanes stockings) and the people I worked with in all of my jobs were pleasant enough with the exception of a few, but that's to be expected. Summers I worked for my dad's business while in high school and all throughout college every afternoon doing office work--filing, bookkeeping, answering the phone, filling orders and packing supplies, delivering supplies, cleaning the bathrooms--you name it, I did it. It was good, general experience and the best part was the time I spent as an adult with my Dad. I guess the most interesting job I had was working for a criminal defense attorney when I graduated from college. I had to travel to different states and hunt down some pretty questionable characters to take statements and get affidavits regarding a murder--we were defending a guy that shot a guy in the back of the head from the back seat of a car over a drug deal. I remember we all said he had "Manson Eyes." Also, I had some interaction with some dangerous people in undercover work for the federal government--illegal arms buyers, drug dealers. But I can't say it was unpleasant--I enjoyed knowing that one day these people would be going to jail for their crimes. Nope--no bad jobs--they were all good!

When you say that the dog terrorizes the cats, do you mean terrorize as in actually wants to harm them or terrorizes as in wants to be friends/play with them and doesn't know how? If it is the latter then perhaps you could teach the dog how to get along with the cats so everyone could be happy. My lab used to try to terrorize the cats until she got used to them and they to her. She was really trying to play but was to rough for the kitties. I corrected her when she was too rough. Eventually she got used to the cats and for the most part ignores them. Occasionally she will sneak up behind them and "goose" them just for fun. But I have also found her and the two younger cats cuddled up on the bed together. Try introducing the dog to the cats with the dog on leash. If the dog tries to get rough with the cat, give it a leash and voice correction. If dog acts appropriately with cat, then it gets an especially yummy treat. There is an animal behaviorist on NPR, "Calling All Pets" that recommends this method. She says that every time dog looks at cats but doesn't try to lunge at or chase them, give dog praise and a special treat. Eventually dog associates cats with treats and learns to get along. The cats will get used to dog once dog stops trying to pester them.

Thanks for the info, In my state cs stops when the child turns 18 or untill the child is out of high school,it is not in my husbands divorce papers that we pay for collage, she lives with her mother in another state close by that she can drive to collage, her mother has custody,she is useing our address because the collage she wants to attend is in our state and there for cheaper rates of $395 per quater, I called and asked about financial aid and was told she would not quilty for grants since my husband and my income is a little more then $30,000, but there was all kinds of finincal aid, I also think a child should have to work to help support there self my children did from the time they were old enough to work part time while in school but it sure helped me being a single parent, I dont feel my income should be included in any finical matter concering my sc since the mother has custody, and shes the one telling my sd that she does not have to work, my husband said he thinks she should work for awhile before attending collage, but it doesnt matter what we think nor were we inculed in anything we learned latter that she had used our address, I dont mind helping this child I just dont want to be responisable for $10000s , the only reason she desided to go to this collage is because she has a boyfreind who will be going there also, her mother and her have made all the arangements I feel we are being left with the finical part, Iam sure alot of you think I am being selfish and maybe I am but my husband was around while my children were growing up lived with me throu the week went home on the weekends when he had his children, never offered to help me nor my children with anything finical and didnt ask me to marry him till my children were out of school and home, we dated for 10 years I would have married him alot sooner,guess i am just venting and right now feeling used, I work full time to help us keep afloat and afford all the extras the mother says the kids just have to have, we still owe over $2000 for braces for my sd, the mother told my husband that she set up a appt for my ss to get contacts, guess who pays for those, even thoe my husband and i bouth need glasses, seems we pay for everything and the mother just sets back and collects the cs I know it cost to raise children but we also have them from friday evening till late sunday while in school every weekend! the mother also works I think she ought to help also with the extras insted she brought her a brand new suv last year, we do well to keep our cars on the road. thanks agine for the info

I highly recommend the book "Wishcraft" by Barbara Sher. It's a lot about marketing yourself and networking. One does not have to give up what one loves to be successful. I've seen a lot of miserable college students who are studying something they think they have to in order to be successful. But what one does have to do, is figure out how to leverage what one is good at and what one loves, and make it marketable and profitable. That's why I'm suggesting she pick the brain of someone who is doing her dream job and figure out how they got there. Take a look at a job advertisement for your eventual dream job. Look at where they list the qualifications. Figure out how to get them and tick them off one by one. My only point about journalism is that if you are a good writer, you don't get paid to write, you get paid to write something for someone who needs a good writer to write it. You might start out for free to build your portfolio and work your way into doing it for pay. I have a friend who is a journalist. She advised up and coming aspirants just to do as much journalism work as they could, and eventually they will run into someone who will pay them. Same with education really, teach in as many situations as you can and eventually you will find the niche you love. But also, journalism is as much about people as it is about writing. If I wanted to avoid interacting with people, I'd go into web design and do some type of technical editing. Education is being with people and all their stress all day long and then doing lesson planning when they finally leave at the end of the day. However, if your daughter is considering education as a field, she needs to try it out asap, she might find that she loves it. Summer camps are a great way to start on that road. Nothing worse than studying education for four years and then when you finally do your student teaching you find out you hate it. Happens all the time. As far as the PhD, one can be successful in that realm too, but it takes marketing . . . You have to figure out your niche and what sets you apart and then be willing to move around to find the place where they need your skill set. I just had a former student launch his dream job after three years of adjuncting. He took advantage of every networking opportunity imaginable. He's smart, but the key to his success was his chutzpah and his relentless enthusiasm for his work. Now days academia is less ivory tower because society is looking at colleges and universities much more for utility and career advancement. Successful academics relentlessly promote themselves and their students. I know it looks all tweed jackets and quiet contemplation on the outside, but it is a cutthroat world. One can't hardly avoid self-marketing. That's why I recommend Barbara Sher's work.