After 5-6 years of shelling out money (and making these dream sellers very comfortable), have any of you saved for the 40-50K per year you will be shelling to have your kid attend a private university (I am being optimistic that they get a 5-10K scholarship for each of 4 years)?
The answer is NO, because I know many of you.
You have been funding perhaps the most vain of all pursuits- bragging rights that your kid plays in college. It's sad on the one hand- but I would hope at some point, some of you see it as a chance for self reflection. You gave up your child's summers, so you could crow. You literally stole their childhood. You weren't helping them live their dreams- you were feeding your ego.
I hope that bumper sticker was worth it.
Aside, you will be shocked to see how many of your little studs end their college career early due to a "career ending" injury. Many of them can't wait to end it without you in sight.
Someone sounds a little angry - perhaps you're projecting here. Personally my deal is:
(1) Son is enjoying lacrosse. So not sure where the "stole their childhood" comes in. Playing lacrosse and having fun doing it seems like a pretty good childhood.
(2) Son plays on a number of teams (box, club, high school, random) and we pay a good bit of money for all of that.
(3) He may or may not play in college. I'd love it if he does, because the wife and I enjoy watching him play. But it is his decision.
(4) Regardless of what happens with recruiting, we have managed to save plenty of money - partly by not paying for private high school, partly by living within our means (no beach house, paid off cars, etc.)
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