What? Paying To Go To School???

This morning, before the oldest four left for school, I had a talk with them about college, scholarships, education financing, living off campus versus on camps, grants, loans...you get the idea. Brandon was the most curious. He asked lots of questions about affording college and finally he got around to asking how Albert and I pay for the masters degrees we are working on. I told him that we take out student loans. I was quick to explain to him that this is not free money, but rather will represent quite a hefty sum that I'll need to pay back when I'm done with school.
My ultimate goal was to help them understand that they should aim to make good grades in high school so that they'll be in a good position to apply for scholarships so that they don't HAVE to rely on loans until later in the process. I was trying to explain that loans have to be repaid and that there will certainly be better things to spend money on than loan repayment.
"But Mom," Brandon interrupted, "You don't work. So why do you need school?"
"Because one day, I will work." I answered him.
"But WHEN you work, you will have to pay back all that money- lots of dollars a month, because you went to school...so that you can work?"
"Yes, Brandon. Something like that." I told him.
"So, how about Dad just works two jobs and you stay home? Then you don't need to work. Then you don't spend money going to school just so you CAN work and give all your paycheck back to the loans that paid for school. Plus, you have lots of kids, Mom. It's a long time before you can work anyway. So isn't it kind of wasting money?"
I hate it when my kids ask questions that I can't answer. I stumbled around for a minute and tried explaining that we won't ALWAYS have small children, and it some point, just as it is now beneficial to the family for me to stay home, that will change, and it will be beneficial for me to work, and I want to be prepared. I don't think he got it though. His words have actually given me food for thought. His way of thinking isn't exactly crazy...