Perpetual Students

[cookderosa]

  Is it just an escape from reality?

For someone with plenty of education already? Yes. Doing what young people do makes older people feel young. Going to school is what young people do, so when adults do it, it feels youthful and ambitious. I'm not talking about someone's first degree, I think that's an entirely different thing, but I do think what you describe is indulgent and lacks maturity BECAUSE it is at not only an opportunity cost (which if fine- live life, be happy) but because it involves debt which creates a ripple effect and burden on those around the person (like your stepdaughter).

IMO you should just vent here, my money is on them going forward no matter what you say.