I just got an email from the agency, saying we have our court date- Monday, April 27th!! YEAH! This means we'll leave no later than next Wednesday, and possibly as early as next Monday, depending on flight availability. I can't believe the time has finally come, you guys! Is this really happening?
There's an awful lot to do before next Wednesday... Crap! (in a good way)
The judge has requested that we write up a plan for how we intend to pay for college for all these kids.
Um... does anybody have the answer? How will we pay for college for all these kids? I've never thought about that before... (I jest... you know that).
But, seriously... Does anyone have an answer?
19 comments:
Wow! This adoption is happening so fast. It seems so to me anyway. From the time you decided on RMI, to now was fast. Very cool!
I know it's been a long journey all together though.
Pack those bags! Woo hoo!
As for college, one solution is to let the kids help. Our kids pay half of everything, from books to tuition, to other stuff. It's worked well for our family.
Wow- congratulations! As for college, I am only saving for one so far so I don't have much advice.
Wow! Congratulations! Let's see . . . when my parents were raising four kids there college savings plan was, "You all better get scholarships." I only partly jest. Most of us were responsible for our tuition, books, and travel expenses. Mom and Dad picked up room and board. That deal was only good for four years, so when my degree turned into a five-year endeavor I had to take care of everything that last year. So, anyway, I don't think there is anything wrong with including "we work hard through word and deed to teach our children a good work ethic so that they can earn scholarships and/or get jobs to help defray the costs of their own education." I mean, I don't know what the judge will think, what the cultural expectations are or anything, but that is a big part of our college savings plan.
Elaine's already said how it was in our family, so I won't explain that again.
I would definitely say something about the importance of teaching young adults the importance of hard work and financial responsibility by expecting them to contribute to their educations. I know that I was a lot more serious about my education than a lot of the people around me because it was MY money that would be wasted (and my scholarship that would be lost).
Congrats on the court date! What an exciting thing to be so close to meeting your son!
How exciting! Congratulations!! And I agree with what the others have said. Our kids work a part time job from the time they start driving, to pay for their own gas & insurance and to save for college! Our oldest two joined the military and contributued to the GI plan so there'd be money for college later, when they decided to go. I like how Elaine worded a possible response! Good luck & Happy Packing!!
Oh woo-whoo! This is so exciting. You know my offer still stands to go with you to offer babysitting/moral support!:) I mean, if I must help a friend by going to a tropical island in the Pacific, then hey, I am ready to sacrifice and give of myself...
Elaine has a terrific response, as usual, about college. (Don't those smart, eloquent people just get on your nerves..:)
Please keep us updated while making preps and while you're gone!
GREAT NEWS!! And I agree with the others. Our idea was if our oldest had to pay a little herself she would work harder! So far it seems to be true. She did get a scholarship as well. Right now we only pay for her books.
Happy packing!
Tina
I agree with everyone else about kids having to contribute to their own college funds. However, that may not be exactly what the judge wants to hear. Can your agency give you any guidance here?
For us, we have started 529 college saving plans for the kids already. While this wouldn't help you as much with the older kids, you definitely have time to save for the younger ones. In our case, we make contributions throughout the year as we can, but we always make contributions on birthdays and Christmas. We spend a little less on gifts than we might otherwise spend, and we tell the kids that as part of their birthday/ Christmas gifts we are putting money in their college funds. Now, since they are 3, 2, and 9-months, they don't get it right now, but at least we are talking about the importance of both education and money management really early on. We also ask grandparents to contribute to the 529 instead of buying gifts (which works half the time, and I imagine will work less and less as the kids really start hitting their grandparents up for presents).
You could point out that loans and grants are available from the US government, especially for larger familes. You could also say that tuition is reduced when kids attend college in their own state (at least that's true in our state).
Hmm. That's all I've got right now!
Since my mind was racing last night and I couldn't sleep, I stayed up working on our written "plan" (such as it is) and it says much of the same things you guys have mentioned. We (like most of you, it sounds) believe in having them help pay their own expenses, but I wasn't quite sure how to word that in the plan. I liked the way Elaine put it, so I stole her "work ethic" thing and revised what I had written (thanks, Elaine! You little smarty-pants). That makes it sound so much more noble than just saying, "college is their problem." Haha! We have had four kids in college so far, so somehow we manage to find a way, but I doubt "We always find a way to make things work out" is what the judge is looking for. As far as cultural differences, the judge is an American from Minnesota, I hear- so he should be able to understand wanting our kids to develop a strong work ethic.
OOPS. I forgot to say thanks to everyone for the good suggestions, so...
Thanks, everyone for the good suggestions! Very much appreciated!
I am catching up on your posts and lauging and crying at the same time. I am so excited for you. I am wishing you a safe and relaxing trip to the MI's. I can't wait to read more. YAY!!!! I am still trying to figure out the college thing for 2 kids at one time... so not sure how you will do it... but 509 savings, Upromise, savings, investing, begging, yardsales, good education, instilling the value of the scholarship, and teaching them to work for what they want. There is nothing wrong with an after school job. And the more kids, the easier for Financial Aid... include all that and things should go fine.
Whoo Hoo for a court date!!! So exciting!
We have college accounts for our kids - but tell them often that it's rather unlikely the fund will cover what college actually costs. My kids are already thinking "in state" because of that. I agree if parents pay everything, too often the kids don't take college seriously and the parents' money is wasted.
Wow, it's been so long coming and yet so fast all at once! Crazy! I'm so excited, it's just around the corner!!!! You'll have a court date the day before Addy's birthday :) I can not WAIT to see pictures of you all as a family!
Yay!! congratulations on the court date! i'm so excited for you!
WOOHOO! That's awesome about the court date.
Wow you have to say how you can pay for all your kids to go to college? That seems a little unfair, maybe all your kids will get scholarships!
First of all....CONGRATULATIONS!!! How exciting.
And as to paying for college, I think you should try and sell the judge on Obamanomics. :)
Hahaha! You're so funny, Ohilda!
Glad to hear you will be traveling so sOON!
Congrats on leaving so soon!! That is so exciting!
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