Well a woman’s place is in the home and a man’s place is in the Beis Medrash. So no one will eat 🙂
As a parent, if my child wanted to learn and I didn’t want them to, I would explain that they have to figure out:
1) How to support themselves (including paying for Beis Medrash and living expensese)
2) If they plan to get married, how are they going to support a wife and family? I would go over serious numbers with them – rent, food, utilities, tuition etc.
3) Discuss a compromise – like half day learning, half day college and offer to pay for both (if I could afford to) so that we are sort of both getting our way.
As a parent, its important for me to look out for my childrens long term goals. But I also need to be cognisant of their personal needs. But I do not need to pay for them.