Flip-flop on aisle five, cartwheel past the zebras, somersault to breakfast and vault to college, please! At the wonderful age of 10, Kailey lives, eats and breathes gymnastics, by her own choosing. She is incredibly bright, excels in school and works hard at everything she does. She gives 110% to life!
When she was born, I thought about saving for college, but put it off. I had 18 years to go! When she was one, I put away some money in an education IRA, hoping it would grow. When she was two, her father and I divorced. When she was two, I had to stop saving. Now she is ten and I need to start saving again.
The IRA grew a little, Kailey grew a lot and I have suddenly realized college is now only 7 years away! But I don't let this cause me stress. She is bright and can earn scholarships. She is talented and might even be able to earn a gymnastics scholarship. I have faith that it will work out for the best.
In the meantime, I choose to be able to allow her enjoyment during her childhood and spend the time and the money on the experiences that will influence the adult she will become. Gymnastics is expensive and as a single parent, I sacrifice a lot to make it happen. Watching her up on the awards stand at the end of a competition, grinning ear to ear makes it all worthwhile.
I do have frightening moments of panic about paying for college - a true pre-college, Code Orange melt-down - but it all goes away when Kailey comes flipping around the corner. How can I resist that bubbly, bouncing ball of energy? It is what keeps me going and convinces me that I am doing right by her and me.
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