I think you have the option to focus on giving your kid a decent childhood because it is short and precious, and remembering that your child's adult life will hopefully be long and happy, and that they are their own person. You are responsible for their childhood and helping them develop who they are. You are not responsible for planning out the rest of their life, college included. Maybe that will make the difference in college applications ten years from now. Maybe not. Who cares? When I talk to my aunts and uncles about their adult children the colleges they went to do not come up. They truly only care about their happiness, and no, their happiness does not seem to hinge on their degree or wealth.
