Are you valuing physical labor over mental labor? Some self made men (like my husband) look back on the struggle and think: " damn, that was hard. I want better for my own kids. As long as they are working hard on their studies, I'm supporting them financially. I don't want them to struggle and worry. " That doesn't mean we didn't require and teach the value of physical labor. |
While there is some value in having done physical labor at least at some point in one’s life, the more important point is in being responsible for earning the money that allows one to succeed in life. One has a very different character-building experience when one has to work to pay at least part of one’s tuition bills. I think OP realizes that he could not have hacked paying any of his own tuition when he was young because he recognizes inner abilities that his FIL has that he will never have. It makes him feel inadequate, so he dislikes his FIL. OP doesn’t necessarily understand that he feels this way, thus this thread calling out what he sees as how the FIL has wronged him. |
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I love how everyone is stating the FIL is so full of character although he’s a stingy SOB, even with his DD.
Most people think generosity is a great characteristic. In any case, OP’s wife married the opposite of her father, which is telling. |
How many 20yos have had the ability to pay their own tuition??? It’s sad that you think physicians are total slackers, which is nervy on a board filled with them. |
| In my experience, blue collar guys tend to be afraid or intimidated by doctors. Some really hate them because they encounter them when they are vulnerable, medical bills bankrupt them, they fear death or serious illness and while they act tough can not deal with pain from illness or med procedures. It’s a thing. |
OP was not a physician at age 20. Young adults can contribute to their own tuition by working part time jobs during the school year and working full time during summers. People who have all their tuitions and costs paid for by others don’t really appreciate the work it takes to make that money. They enter adulthood with the experience of having everything they need and want paid for by others and they expect this happy experience to continue as they live their adult lives. This is a good explanation for why the OP expects his own family and even his wife’s family to pay for their vacations and restaurant meals. |
Why are you so ridiculous?! My kids worked and their $10k didn’t make a dent in college tuition. Anywhere! You clearly are triggered by this thread about passing down generational wealth. Why don’t you take a beat from your crusade. If it’s not for you, it doesn’t mean it can’t be for others. |
Based on what OP has actually posted, and knowing young adults like the OP, I believe your speculations are absolutely groundless and couldn't be more wrong. My own wild speculation, based on a few comments, is that OP is an MD/PhD. But maybe a bot MD/PhD Lots of families debate this skin in the game idea, and some kids benefit from the practice. On the other hand, some high ability, intensely competitive and ambitious kids use the time that would have been spent on part time jobs to pursue opportunities and passion projects that benefit them long term academically and professionally. The skin in the game kids do this too, but it's more difficult, for no particular reason as far as I can see, since they already value their educational opportunities. And of course, yes, it's really important to teach these third base kids money management, empathy, and most important of all: not to be a jerk. |
Astute observation. |
No, she married a loser who relies on family money and others paying his way. He refuses to support his wife. |
| OP says on page one of this thread, wife is back in school with no income. Later on OP alludes to a salary. My takeaway is OP is paying wife's tuition and all living expenses. |
Then I guess she should go crying to daddy, except then her tuition wouldn’t be paid. |
Previous post is hitting waaay too close to home for OP. OP doesn’t want to spend one second thinking that he might be inadequate and that there is any possibility that his family’s approach to money is not the only way every family should deal with money. He wants to be patted on the back and told “there, there, of course your way is the right way. Don’t give another second’s thought to anyone who disagrees with you.” And he certainly doesn’t want to do any self reflection about having respect for those whose experiences might be different than his own. |
+1. And all the other posters projecting their own issues. |
| Didn't read the whole thread, but what exactly is the OP's job? Is he a doctor in a practice established by his grandfather and he thinks of himself as super generous and evolved? He mentioned working only 0.8 FTE, in competitive jobs you cannot do that (as in you cannot just show up and demand only do 0.8 of a job). The OP seems entitled and clueless. |