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<p>Legally that responsibility ends at age 18. Whatever moral obligation you could argue exists is going to be dependent on circumstances. A parent may be far less able to take on debt than the child – the parent is older, nearing the end of their most productive wage-earning years, may need to focus on the financial needs of their other younger children (or older children with disabilities), as well as their own aging parents. </p>
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<p>I considered part of my obligation as a PARENT to raise my kids up so that they had the ability to support themselves, if necessary, at age 18. I lost my own mother when I was in my early 20’s, so it was never far from my mind that I might not be around forever. Obviously I wouldn’t expect an 18 year old to support themselves and pay for private college, but the vast majority of the young people my kids went to school with and grew up do in fact pay their own way through college, attending community colleges and the local CSU. </p>
<p>My son in fact was on his own and supporting himself at age 20. I think my kids are both better off because they had workplace skills and experience before they went to college. My daughter definitely has the sense that her first job out of college puts her at a higher level of responsibility than most of her classmates have, and she probably could get that job because she truthfully could indicate that she had the type of practical experience they were looking for as well as educational background.</p>
<p>I don’t think parents are doing their kids any favors when they shield them from taking on responsibility in their lives. Parenting is about a lot more than giving money.</p>