Letter Writer-- you are not alone in your predicament. Just know that this year, the law school graduates are having a hard time finding work too.

What makes you "know" you would be a good lawyer? Is it because you are good at debating the issues? Have you been told that your ability to hold your own in an argument or debate means that you are a natural born lawyer?

Do you imagine yourself sticking up for those less able to stick up for themselves?

Or are you interested in holding up the status quo?

Are you good at reading carefully (not speed reading, but reading every word and contemplating that word within its context).

Are you good at logic games, the kind that would get you a great score on the LSAT exam?

Are you simply passionate about reading the text of Congressional bills? Or passionate about goverment? Or passionate about reading the fine print of the sales or service contracts you sign when making a purchase?

Did you read the fine print on your student loan documents or credit card agreement and get really excited about your proficiency to read so well?

I am just curious why you "know" you would be a good lawyer. I hope that you will do more research before you apply for law school (and those giant student loans).

You won't find a job right away in this economy, but if you are considering law school, try your best for a few months at least to first get a job in a legal office. Maybe a low-paying job or internship at your local Legal Aid. Or become a paralegal at a small or large law firm. Or try to get a job with the courts.

Really, then you will "know" better whether you're a natural born lawyer or not.

You may find you are not-- but that doesn't mean there aren't careers out there which permit you to passionately advocate for others, to persuade, to speak publically, to be dramatic, to read carefully and write persuasively.

That is just my two cents.

Sometimes infanticide is the tragic result of psychosis, sometimes it is just plain selfishness on the part of the mother. The law should be able to emcompass the distinction.

Don't uproot your kid. Try to find a good job that pays well that maybe isn't "business writer." Maybe time to try inside sales or teaching, something steady.

Don't move in with your parents. I can honestly say my mother is my good friend and a great grandmom to my kids-- and at the same time, I could describe her exactly as you described your mom. The only way I can be friends with my mom is by putting some time limits on our interactions and changing the subject frequently so she doesn't get herself on a spiteful nut roll that ruins the conversation and displaces my sense of sanity and perspective for the rest of the afternoon or evening.

Living with my nutty mother and trying to raise my kids in her constant presence and with her insane judgmentmentalism would be completely impossible.

Be his good friend if he is a likeable guy. Be his friend with benefits while you are young and unfettered, but move out of the cohabitation situation (he is using you, anyhow) and use at least two forms of birth control while you are sleeping together. Do not have any children with this man.

I offer this advice as a licensed attorney and someone with just a bit more life experience than you.

You are not a Scrooge McBitch. Marrying this man ties his financial irresponsibility to you and will destroy your good credit and your hopes for the future.

My husband and I are maybe 98.9% on the same page when it comes to saving and maintaining good credit. He is more of a saver than me and I am more of "spender" than he (if you count buying the kids new clothes at Target and Pampers instead of generic diapers an example of outrageous spending). Our only real button-pushing fight is about money.

When you and this man are married, and his irresponsibility is literally destroying your credit, I would bet the money fights you have will surpass anything I can conjure up from my experience or imagination.

Yes, people can change, but they change a little bit. Like, switching from Starbucks to Dunkin' Donuts for their morning coffee.

If you do marry him, do it with open eyes and no expectation of change. You will be the financial grown up. As a condition of marriage, insist he sign over his paycheck to you each pay period and give him a cash allowance for his discretionary spending. Keep the main checking account for expenses in your name only and you pay all the bills each month. Check your credit report periodically (and his) to make sure he is not opening new credit cards without telling you.

Doesn't sound like a great situation-- try not to marry him in the first place. Spouses covertly bankrupting their more responsible partners happens all the time and usually isn't discovered until divorce papers are actually filed.