Picture this: you’ve always promised your children that you’d do everything in your power to help fund their college education. But life has other plans, and now you’re faced with the heartbreaking decision of breaking that promise. This is the reality for one family who, after facing a serious illness and job loss, can no longer afford to send their youngest child to his dream private college. Read on to find out how they tried to make things work and the emotional fallout that ensued.
The College Promise

Savings and Inheritance

Middle Child’s Illness

Financial Struggles

State School Scholarship

Dream College Dilemma

Loan Rejection

Housing Market Woes

Sibling Blame Game

Putting Their Foot Down

Grad School Promise

Acceptance and Isolation

Heartbroken Parents

Middle Son’s Guilt

Feeling Like a Failure

Broken Promises and Family Heartache
This family’s story is a rollercoaster of emotions, as they struggle to keep their promise of funding their children’s college education. With their middle child’s serious illness and the loss of income, they’re faced with the heart-wrenching decision to break their promise to their youngest child. Despite securing a scholarship to a state school, the youngest son is devastated and blames his brother for not being able to attend his dream private college. The family is left in emotional turmoil, with the parents feeling like failures and the middle son shouldering guilt he doesn’t deserve. Let’s see what the internet thinks of this heartrending situation…
A reminder to celebrate your child’s achievements, regardless of circumstances

Alumni suggests approaching private school for financial help
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Parents struggle to afford youngest child’s dream college. Family tensions.

Heartbreaking situation for a family dealing with illness and debt
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Explore financial aid options at private colleges. NTA.

Youngest child can’t attend private school, but NAH. Life’s unfair.

Heartbreaking dilemma caused by broken systems. NAH in impossible situation.

A frustrated comment on the broken healthcare system

Encouraging comment, offering support and positivity
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Compassionate response to family’s financial struggles and son’s outburst

Youngest child lost promised opportunity due to unforeseen crisis.

Explore financial aid options for private school affordability

Parent’s decision to spend younger child’s college savings causes resentment
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Encouraging response to NAH situation with helpful solution

NAH due to unforeseen circumstances, youngest child upset about dream school.

Middle child’s medical fees affected youngest son’s college fund.

Curious if backup plan discussed. Encourage job to save money?

Unexpected financial impact causes college promise to be broken

Parent struggles to afford private school for youngest child. NAH.

Teenager’s shattered dreams after family’s financial crisis, NAH

Parent not at fault, but youngest child allowed to be upset

Unequal distribution of resources causing resentment in youngest child.

Compassionate comment offers support in difficult situation.

Higher education system is the a**hole

Parents prioritize saving their son’s life over youngest son’s college.

Youngest child’s lost opportunities due to older brother’s illness.

Healthcare system in USA is THE a**hole

18-year-old upset over missing college experience, but understands financial situation.

Parent receives empathy and advice for family counseling options.

Youngest child feels unloved due to financial constraints. NAH situation.

Sibling’s experience shows college is about effort, not cost. NAH.

NAH. Commenter suggests state university transfer, offers support and luck ♥

Youngest son’s life changed due to pandemic, illness & school. NAH.

NAH, blame the healthcare system. Make it up to avoid estrangement

Universal healthcare needed to avoid financial ruin from illness

Heartbreaking story of unaffordable education and healthcare in America

Suggests alternative solution for college promise dilemma.

NTA. Son is entitled brat for blaming parents for financial situation

Parent receives sympathy and support for difficult financial situation.

Compassionate comment defends OP’s difficult decision, criticizes harsh suggestions.

Suggesting a gap year and family support for college debt

Curious about consequences if middle child didn’t receive treatment. NAH/NTA.

Parent receives support for not affording youngest child’s dream school

Heartbreaking situation for family, youngest child feels undervalued. Condolences ❤️

Youngest child feels cheated, but NAH. Tough situation for all

Alumni suggests scholarship for youngest child’s private school tuition
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Questioning the lack of trust or college savings accounts

Parent receives support for college decision, son’s disappointment understandable

Empathetic comment acknowledges son’s disappointment in affordable way.

Private colleges may negotiate cost to public price. Helpful tip!

Plan ahead for contingencies! NAH with a slight YTA.
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NTA and a heartwarming appreciation for the parent’s hard work

Parent advised to empathize with youngest son’s loss of future

Sibling resentment causes frustration over college start differences
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Empathetic reply suggests family therapy when affordable, give time to adjust

Heartbreaking decision for parents, but options available for son’s dream school

Youngest child feels left out after siblings attend private school. NAH.

High school senior empathizes with parents’ financial situation and son’s disappointment.
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Parent defends using college fund for medical bills, not favoritism.

Compassionate comment offers support to struggling family during tough time

Parents took loans for older siblings’ private school, couldn’t afford youngest’s. NTA.

Parent’s broken promise on college is crushing for son

Full ride to university, but youngest son throwing tantrum

Youngest child TA for telling brother’s college less important than life

Ungrateful son gets free college, still complains. NTA

Empathetic comment offers hope for difficult family situation

Universal healthcare is needed to prevent families from breaking promises

Youngest child rightfully angry, siblings have their own rights. Apologize sincerely

Parents forced to break college promise, youngest child disappointed.

Suggesting alternative options for private school loans.
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Youngest child denied education and legacy, but NAH. Therapy recommended.

Sibling rivalry and financial struggles. NTA encourages independence and empathy.

Financial struggle leads to college promise being broken. NTA.

NTA, but youngest son is entitled and lacks empathy

Encouraging independence: NAH, son can take out loans for school

Parent’s financial struggles lead to son cutting contact. NTA.

Parent praised for handling difficult situation with entitled youngest child

Parent forced to break college promise due to financial constraints. NTA.

Youngest child upset over lost college experience, family hopes for peace
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Encouraging response to NTA struggling with finances and child’s dream.

NTA comment: Older brother blamed for uncontrollable situation ♂️

Suggestion to recoup lost funds for middle son’s medical care

NTA. Son blames brother for not affording private school for him.

Dream school lost due to financial constraints, justified disappointment expressed.

Student loans exist, NAH. Private school worth the cost?

Youngest child struggling with changes, NTA for parents’ decision
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Heartbreaking situation. NTA for being unable to afford college tuition.
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Engaging conversation on college promise and financial constraints.

Family financial struggles lead to broken college promise.

Encouraging response to a parent’s dilemma with empathetic advice ❤️
