The one key factor in all of this is guilt.
We all tend to forget that there are a million famililies where parents weren't divorced and lived happy, loving lives. But they also lived their lives to the fullest ... lots of vacations, eating out, entertainment, fancy designer clothes, nice cars etc with no thought of saving either for their own future or for their kids' education. No one talks about those families' obligations towards the education expenses of their children. Or atleast not in as judgemental terms as those of separated / divorced parents. Heck even financial planners say that you must save for your own retirement at the expense of kids' education if need be because the kids can get education loans ... you can't get a retirement loan.
While we all want to do the best we can for our kids ... everyone is different. My parents paid for my education so I hope to do everything I can to make sure that I do the same for my kids. It will be difficult for sure, now that i'm separated. But that's part of life. Maybe the kids will have to apply for more scholarships and loans or a local university rather than aim for Harvard or Stanford. We all make accomodations for circumstances.
We all tend to forget that there are a million famililies where parents weren't divorced and lived happy, loving lives. But they also lived their lives to the fullest ... lots of vacations, eating out, entertainment, fancy designer clothes, nice cars etc with no thought of saving either for their own future or for their kids' education. No one talks about those families' obligations towards the education expenses of their children. Or atleast not in as judgemental terms as those of separated / divorced parents. Heck even financial planners say that you must save for your own retirement at the expense of kids' education if need be because the kids can get education loans ... you can't get a retirement loan.
While we all want to do the best we can for our kids ... everyone is different. My parents paid for my education so I hope to do everything I can to make sure that I do the same for my kids. It will be difficult for sure, now that i'm separated. But that's part of life. Maybe the kids will have to apply for more scholarships and loans or a local university rather than aim for Harvard or Stanford. We all make accomodations for circumstances.
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