Brooke is DONE with HS!

Baylie & Brooke
All 4 all 2gether for 1ce!
Aunt Jill & Dalon

Christian & Brooke

Wow...Brooke is done with HS! We celebrated her HS graduation at an Italian restaurant with Nathan & Jill and all the kids. We weren't able to fly up for her graduation party in June. Here is the BIG question of what college and how we are planning to pay for college. The answer: we are not paying for any of our kids college...they are on their own. I know, I know, in some circles, this admission is just like saying I lock my kids in the closet as a form of discipline or let them eat nothing but chocolate cake for breakfast most days: not technically abuse, but a sure sign that we are not capable of meeting their needs. These days, any self-respecting mom knows that part of her job includes providing the means necessary for, at the very least, a 4 year degree at the best institution to which her child is able to gain admission, plus the cost of room, board and books (and let's face it, beer.)

I have even heard parents argue passionately against requiring college-going kids to hold part time jobs to help defray costs, because 20 hours a week spent slinging pasta in my case or answering phones might prevent young scholars from being able to "fully immerse" themselves in the college experience.

blah, blah, blah

It is not that I am anti-college. I think higher education is great, especially when the student is motivated to succeed (which I personally was not until I was in my 20's- after I wasted gobs of money). I'd LOVE it if each of my kids finishes school, whether pursuing a specific career goal or simply for the love of learning. I am not on board with the whole idea of making the transition to "real life" so easy on young folk. It's like we've come to expect that young adults shouldn't have to struggle. What about the time-honored tradition of sitting on milk crates, eating crappy food and checking out movies from the library for entertainment? Isn't that struggle in itself valuable to growth?

I want my kids to learn to be self-sufficient and responsible. I want them to find a career that both puts food on the table and feeds their souls. I want them to be loving, kind, generous, compassionate, and down-to-earth. I believe they can get there whether they have a Ph.D or a GED; whether they have a student loan or zero debt; whether they work with their hands or pursue academia. How they get there is up to them. I believe my kids are bright, creative, and resourceful enough to figure it out. In their adult lives my kids will struggle. They will fail. They will also succeed! I will love them & encourage them when they do either.

But we are keeping our money. We earned it. How to earn theirs? Well that's up to them.

(don't worry kiddos...after dad read this he said he'd match dollar for dollar on what you save)