Parents Talking

I have been listening to a family member who tells me he and his ex are paying for all the expenses for their son. It’s not that it is my personal business, because it’s not. However, these parents are not wealthy and they live paycheck to paycheck…and their son is in his late twenties. It isn’t about whether this is a great kid or not but rather whose responsibility should this be? Now remember, I was a single mom of five. There is no way I could even entertain that idea for any of my children. I was able to help with a parent plus loan for one of my kids when she left after high school to go away to college. I was able to help contribute towards her education, and the interst rate is very low and we all know you can’t get a better rate for student loans than through the government loan programs.

However, I did not pay for a car, rent, or living expenses. My daughter also worked full time and juggled her schooling around her work hours. Paying $36.00 a month didn’t break my wallet.  I believe as Suze Ormund says that parents should not pay for their kids college education, especially if the parents don’t have that kind of money! If your kids want to go badly enough, they will have to figure it out. Ms. Ormund worked two jobs to get through her education…and she managed to get her degree. My other older children are paying for their school expenses and they are almost finished with their degree.  If you are wealthy and money is no object, then I guess that is your choice. Still I wonder how are we teaching our grown children that these choices must be theirs to own. I feel they will have more pride and respect for all that hard work and efforts that went into attaining their goal. FFT  ( Food for Tought) 

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