Lori H., it sounds like your son definitely has been exposed to the financial concerns faced by your family, which probably couldn't be helped. My mother was the oldest of a bunch and was needed to deal with things based on lack of money and parental illness as young as 11 or 12. I can tell you from being raised by her that these things stick with a person for a lifetime.
If you can take any advice people on this board give you (like aculady's very constructive advice) and any and all info gathered regarding scholarships and things, and go over it step-by-step with your son, it would help counteract what your son has internalized so far and help him re-visualize his dream to attend college in several years. I know it's easier for me to write this than for you to do it. Wish you luck...
