Keeping Parent Information Confidential

<p>jlaur</p>

<p>We are probably crossing posts, but regarding TV....we basically don't watch TV. We watch major events like the State of the Union, Superbowl, the Olympics, but other than that, we just keep it off.</p>

<p>Fresno.... great idea. We don't watch any "network" TV so my kids don't see any of the sitcoms of today and the ads that go along with them. They do see cable news shows but those ads are often financial related.</p>

<p>I really don't think it's a lifestyle thing. I just think it's an individual family thing. But does anybody see the irony? On one hand the kids are supposed to be "adult" - parents don't have access to college performance and grades, kids are supposed to know their family financial situation in detail enought to "certify", medical records become impossible to get etc. On the other hand, the kids by virture of their age in most states are limited to the number of hours they work if they are 17 (I agree with this), limited to the funds they can secure on their own, the parents are theoretically supposed to "support" them if they pursue higher education, they can enlist but can't rent a hotel room and on and on and on and you can still claim them as a dependent on your taxes and pay their health insurance. By my (and my husband's choice) if we're supporting them and claiming them on our taxes and paying for their insurance, they are still kids, period, and they don't have an inherent right to know our finances. And I firmly believe and agree with the previous poster that while there are definitely exceptions the vast majority of 17 and 18 year olds don't have the comphrehension to put in all in perspective. You learn that step by step through life. The time will come all too soon they we are older, grayer, infirm and need them to help us manage our finances I'm sure. That's life. They certainly don't sign our tax forms, meet with our financial planner or examine our pay check stubs, or open our bank statements and that's our choice at this stage of our life. I'll say it again, there should be many conversations prior to January of their senior year that clearly indicate to the son or daughter expectations with regard to finances and possible colleges. It shouldn't be a surprise 8 months before they are to leave for college. Frankly - to each his own how to interpet "certify". It is to the best of their knowledge as far as I'm concerned.</p>