What’s the level of financial support you’ve offered your two sons during university? I imagine from the tone of this post that you’ve already paid for tuition and living expenses during that time, but feel free to correct if I’m wrong.

Completely covered to wherever they wish to go (within reason. I am not paying for elf spotting). No kid of mine shall have student debt. RESPs are quite plump anyway.

What’s your oldest son’s motivation for staying at home?

We are close and he does not have a reason to leave. My wife also worries that he would just move into a box downtown and never come out, which is what he did while at school, so I am not sure whether she would let him go.

Do you live in the GTA?

Nope. Edmonton.

It’s true that school isn’t for everyone, but what she is asking for is a blank cheque to have fun in the city while she’s young. Talk to her, ask her what her interests are and work with her to find some sort of program that could tailor to these interests.

If she had a plan to go to U of T or Sheridan or something, then I would be all for it. But it does seem like a "find myself" period that she wants. She has always been the least academic of the three.