Dear Mom of LE girl,

Sending LOVE to you and your family.  I agree with what PFT said, also.  And, remember she is still young and many things will change over time.

Thank you all for your posts.  I think this is going to be okay.  Truthfully, my daughter has come a long way in the last few years and our relationship has improved tremendously.  She has moved away from thoughts about more masculine roles. I have improved my prayer life and I have received graces that have helped me to be more understanding and patient.

My daughter is taking a reserve officer training course this August (it's required for the AA degree in criminal justice degree) and while I'd rather she not do it, I am resigned because I think she has to see what this is really like.  She's changed her mind about a lot of things in the last couple of years and I'm praying that she'll decide, on her own, that this isn't the career path she wants.  

I am mostly doing fine and continuing to build my relationship with my daughter and learning to turn to Jesus and Mary and the saints when I struggle.  In retrospect, this post seems to have a bit of emotional impetuosity as I allowed my thoughts to wander (about the class I referred to) and instead of just saying a prayer and hoping for the best .. I posted my thoughts here.  

While it may appear by this post that I'm a knot of worry and fear ... this comes and goes and I know it's best not to dwell on this things.  

Again, many thanks, your prayers and advice are appreciated.

P.S.  I am very familiar with the admonitions against a young woman attending college.  Please note again that we live in a very small community.  Jobs are scarce.  There are no trade / vocational schools within driving distance.  We are a small family, there are no younger siblings to care for.  We have a very isolated social life.  We are subject to a novus ordo parish.  Even if involved in the parish life, the young people my daughter's age are all being sent away to attend big name universities.  The young women are pursuing careers in law, medicine and science. Yes, all of them.  We are doing the best with what we have before us.  I would have preferred that our daughter major in something else.  But it is important that she be allowed to make some choices on her own without feeling controlled and pushed to do what I think is best.  I have to give her some respect and allow some exercise of her free will.  She is a very good girl. Very bright, kind and very principled.  

Again, prayers are much appreciated.

If a woman never gets a marriage proposal and she never received a religious calling then perhaps she should live a chaste life AT HOME with parents and care for them.  She can work to support them and herself through traditionally feminine roles such as nursing or teaching young children.  Perhaps even work at a library or a freelance writer or tutor.  How about teaching etiquette classes?  These are jobs that would also allow her to dress in modest, feminine styles.