College Tuition and the Disrespectful Child

[glastron_79]

Originally Posted by SXMGirl

I agree with you; however, unless you were asked, it really is none of your concern. We have a generation of children, most of whom will never live the lifestyle of their parents. They have not had to work for anything. Good parenting requires that children have some responsibility. If their daughter has been given everything up until now, the next thing expected is the college educaiton and a new car. Just wait until reality sets in for both parents and child.

IMO, paying for college is one thing, expecting parents to flat out pay for any car is another. My parents bought me my first car (used from a neighbor) right after H.S. graduation and I paid the entire $800 back. I took a FT receptionist job right after graduation so I had the money to do this. I didn't go to college until I was 26 and married, so I paid for my own education. My parents' finances would not have permitted them to assist with my college education anyway.

My parents also charged me $25/week board and $100/month car insurance since the policy was under their name. I faithfully paid for four years until the day I left their home when I was 22 years old.

It's up to the parents to firmly draw the line on what expenses they will absorb and which should be the child's responsibility.

[dvcgal]

We will pay for college tuition if we can afford it when the time comes. I will never hang that over my child's head. So many kids do not want to go to college that if my children decide that they want to go, I do not want to be the reason behind them not going. Again, this is only if we can afford to do so. Our kids may be forced to take out student loans to pay for school so it may not make a difference but I just would not want to be the one that prohibits my child(ren) from going on to college.

[Granny Sue]

Since you were asked and your answer provoked an argument, something tells me there's more to this...but anyhoooooo......

A parent doesn't owe a child a college education. I paid for my own and it would have been nice if they would have paid for it but I don't think I would have appreciated it as much.


And I don't think making them earn the privilege of going to college is holding it over their heads. My younger brother got a rude awakening when he was rude and disrepectful to my parents then expected them to pay for something this expensive.

We never had to face this situation as the service was involved but we would have helped out. The money we would have spent is going into a trust for Kali and any future grandchildren.

[GloryB]

When my oldest son went to college, I couldn't afford to pay his way. He worked and got student loans. He also got his masters degree. He didn't miss classes, he didn't wobble around with what he wanted to get his degree in and he didn't waste any money partying. In short, he became a responsible adult. I would have preferred to have the funds to pay his way, but in the end, perhaps it worked out better than some of the stories I hear of kids who totally take advantage of their parent's hard earned savings.