Dear Eric: I am the aunt to two amazing young people. I have always been a big part of their lives, especially when my brother and their mom divorced.
When each of them was born, I opened a savings account in their names and have been steadily adding money in every month. Five years ago, my brother married a lovely woman with two kids of her own, whom we have welcomed wholeheartedly into our family.
My nephew is 17 and is applying to colleges, and my year-old niece will be doing the same next year. Now, look, I like her kids. But my niece, nephew and I have a special bond, and they have gone through a lot in their lives. Dear Share : Agh, money. However, it may be best for the maintenance of your relationship to think about creative solutions.
The amount of money is also something to consider. Is this enough money to cover all of the tuition? In the end, though, this is your gift to do with as you please. But it may save you a headache to consider some alternatives before doing what you want and have every right to do. My now-adult son does not know the extent of the abuse in my marriage because I hid it.
Regardless, he is three times more likely to become an abuser himself simply because he grew up in an abusive home. Sadly, I have heard him berate and insult his lovely wife multiple times. I have made gentle corrections to him following his comments. The last time was at a holiday family gathering. I immediately stated that I spent years planning on leaving his father because of similar treatments, and that I knew he could be a better man and husband.
