Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think #2 is being a selfish, self-centered, naive, oblivious little baby. Yes he worked hard, great, but there are a LOT of factors in addition. He didn't earn his natural endowment of talent, it's happenstance that he didn't get an injury or illness that sidelined him, it's happenstance that he had a good team to play on and good coaches. It's happenstance that he had a good day in his sport the day the scout was visiting, or whatever-- athletic scholarships can be pretty arbitrary across similarly situated kids. Your son had a lot of good luck and support from others and you need to open his eyes to that. And YES, definitely claw back all of the money you invested in his sport, with the value of money over time.
No way would I give a young adult $350K for any reason at all. And especially someone who's showing such a lack of maturity. If he's fool enough to throw away a sibling relationship over this, the best gift you could give him is a big fat reality check.
We are not athletic folks, but academic-minded ones. Isn't intellect also inborn talent? I think it is.
Both of OP's children demonstrated work ethic and resilience. They are both equally deserving from his description. They both need to be treated fairly, and if both were promised a certain sum, that sum needs to be available to them. Otherwise it means the parents went back on their word, and that's a betrayal that will permanently kill a relationship.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think #2 is being a selfish, self-centered, naive, oblivious little baby. Yes he worked hard, great, but there are a LOT of factors in addition. He didn't earn his natural endowment of talent, it's happenstance that he didn't get an injury or illness that sidelined him, it's happenstance that he had a good team to play on and good coaches. It's happenstance that he had a good day in his sport the day the scout was visiting, or whatever-- athletic scholarships can be pretty arbitrary across similarly situated kids. Your son had a lot of good luck and support from others and you need to open his eyes to that. And YES, definitely claw back all of the money you invested in his sport, with the value of money over time.
No way would I give a young adult $350K for any reason at all. And especially someone who's showing such a lack of maturity. If he's fool enough to throw away a sibling relationship over this, the best gift you could give him is a big fat reality check.
OP here and it is somewhat complicated. We spent around 20k per year for DS #1 piano and violin activities such as lessons, competitions and cost of travel. We spent about 25k per year for DS #2 with his sports activities. DS #1 also has an 80K Steinway piano and 20K violin. You can say that DS #1 had it better than DS #2. As a dad, I am comfortable in giving DS #2 his share of the money 350K, probably more by the time he graduates from investment, because he receives the athletic scholarship for his hard work. Unfortunately, DW doesn't think the same way and it is causing a rift between mother and son. DS #1 does not have any issues with DS #2 getting that money. Our family is very transparent about finances.
Btw, I do understand that getting an academic scholarship, even without room and board, is extremely hard; however, getting an athletic scholarship with free tuition, room/board, and stipend, is even harder, right? There are not many of them available.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I totally disagree that DS#2 should get the money. School is what it is and when all grad schools are over then split the leftover equally or pass down for grandchildren. Kids should never have been brought into the funding discussion unless there was a certain cost that could not have been supported. And I say this as a person whose parents paid for my sister #1 law school and sister #2 medical school. In any event, nice problem to have!
So you’re saying hard work don’t matter? It is extremely hard to get an athletic scholarship.
Anonymous wrote:I think #2 is being a selfish, self-centered, naive, oblivious little baby. Yes he worked hard, great, but there are a LOT of factors in addition. He didn't earn his natural endowment of talent, it's happenstance that he didn't get an injury or illness that sidelined him, it's happenstance that he had a good team to play on and good coaches. It's happenstance that he had a good day in his sport the day the scout was visiting, or whatever-- athletic scholarships can be pretty arbitrary across similarly situated kids. Your son had a lot of good luck and support from others and you need to open his eyes to that. And YES, definitely claw back all of the money you invested in his sport, with the value of money over time.
No way would I give a young adult $350K for any reason at all. And especially someone who's showing such a lack of maturity. If he's fool enough to throw away a sibling relationship over this, the best gift you could give him is a big fat reality check.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think #2 is being a selfish, self-centered, naive, oblivious little baby. Yes he worked hard, great, but there are a LOT of factors in addition. He didn't earn his natural endowment of talent, it's happenstance that he didn't get an injury or illness that sidelined him, it's happenstance that he had a good team to play on and good coaches. It's happenstance that he had a good day in his sport the day the scout was visiting, or whatever-- athletic scholarships can be pretty arbitrary across similarly situated kids. Your son had a lot of good luck and support from others and you need to open his eyes to that. And YES, definitely claw back all of the money you invested in his sport, with the value of money over time.
No way would I give a young adult $350K for any reason at all. And especially someone who's showing such a lack of maturity. If he's fool enough to throw away a sibling relationship over this, the best gift you could give him is a big fat reality check.
We are not athletic folks, but academic-minded ones. Isn't intellect also inborn talent? I think it is.
Both of OP's children demonstrated work ethic and resilience. They are both equally deserving from his description. They both need to be treated fairly, and if both were promised a certain sum, that sum needs to be available to them. Otherwise it means the parents went back on their word, and that's a betrayal that will permanently kill a relationship.
Anonymous wrote:I think #2 is being a selfish, self-centered, naive, oblivious little baby. Yes he worked hard, great, but there are a LOT of factors in addition. He didn't earn his natural endowment of talent, it's happenstance that he didn't get an injury or illness that sidelined him, it's happenstance that he had a good team to play on and good coaches. It's happenstance that he had a good day in his sport the day the scout was visiting, or whatever-- athletic scholarships can be pretty arbitrary across similarly situated kids. Your son had a lot of good luck and support from others and you need to open his eyes to that. And YES, definitely claw back all of the money you invested in his sport, with the value of money over time.
No way would I give a young adult $350K for any reason at all. And especially someone who's showing such a lack of maturity. If he's fool enough to throw away a sibling relationship over this, the best gift you could give him is a big fat reality check.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I totally disagree that DS#2 should get the money. School is what it is and when all grad schools are over then split the leftover equally or pass down for grandchildren. Kids should never have been brought into the funding discussion unless there was a certain cost that could not have been supported. And I say this as a person whose parents paid for my sister #1 law school and sister #2 medical school. In any event, nice problem to have!
So you’re saying hard work don’t matter? It is extremely hard to get an athletic scholarship.
OK..look at my scenario. #1 is a very casual student. He applied to mid tier schools and got merit aid at all of them. Choose one and tuition was similar to instate. #2 was a very focused student. MCPS magnet, 1600 SAT, internship at national lab. She got in to an Ivy full pay. Do I give the difference to #1 for coasting in school? I assume the athlete loved the sport and chose his path that lead to the scholarship. If the parents forced him to participate in order to pay for college, I guess that would be different.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I totally disagree that DS#2 should get the money. School is what it is and when all grad schools are over then split the leftover equally or pass down for grandchildren. Kids should never have been brought into the funding discussion unless there was a certain cost that could not have been supported. And I say this as a person whose parents paid for my sister #1 law school and sister #2 medical school. In any event, nice problem to have!
So you’re saying hard work don’t matter? It is extremely hard to get an athletic scholarship.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I totally disagree that DS#2 should get the money. School is what it is and when all grad schools are over then split the leftover equally or pass down for grandchildren. Kids should never have been brought into the funding discussion unless there was a certain cost that could not have been supported. And I say this as a person whose parents paid for my sister #1 law school and sister #2 medical school. In any event, nice problem to have!
So you’re saying hard work don’t matter? It is extremely hard to get an athletic scholarship.
The other child probably worked really hard in other ways.
But that didn’t translate into a scholarship. Results matter.