Dear Cr-Abby from Thinking Ahead in Alabama

August 31, 2008
DEAR CR-ABBY: My son is the recipient of a four-year college scholarship with full tuition. He selected and applied to this school. The problem is, he now wants to transfer to another college. This means he would finish his sophomore year and give up two years of the scholarship.
The reason he has given us is “a lot of his friends go there.” I have been upset over this to the point of tears. We're a working-class family that struggles to cover the cost of his dorm and his meals. My son says I'm being difficult. How does a parent handle this?
– Thinking Ahead
In Gadsden, Ala.

Dear Bama T and A,

Hey isnt "thinking ahead in Alabama" an oxymoron?

Well, quite the Rhodes Scholar you have there. What's his major Micro-brew Economics?

Cr-Abby respects the freedom of an adult to make decisions provided they understand that the consequence(s) for those decisions are solely owned by (to quote our President) "the decider".

If Bubba has his heart set on "Guzzletown U." and has a "plan" to pay for it, then by all means cut the umbilical cord and say..."Well, you're a man now...the college tab and the bar tab are yours"!

Drown your sorrows in a little self indulgence as you will have no obligation to be an abettor in this bad decision and will have a little more coin in your pocket.

Empty Nesters have the benefit of financial freedom if they so desire. Who knows maybe sonny will surprise you and pull off the grades and the grog to greatness like GWB.


Cr-Abby