My son was smart. Smarter than me. I almost requested a paternity test because he was so damn intelligent. THAT IS A JOKE.
My ex and I divorced when he was about 12. She remarried when he was 14. I did when he was 16.
I had an RESP set up for him. That's a education fund in Canada. As long as he went for post secondary education he could use the money for anything.
I always told him that I was okay with him not going to university. That way I could use the money I had saved up for him to go to Belgium and buy some beer from monks that only allow you to buy one case.
He knew I was joking and he always played along. He wouldn't let me get his goat.
When he got accepted to McGill it was the proudest moment of my life. I took him out for a beer to celebrate his achievement and mourn the loss of my trip to Europe.
My son was struck and killed by a drunk driver in March. I'm dealing with it. My ex is dealing with it. My wife has been nothing but my rock in this. She is holding me up.
I was dealing with the funeral arrangements and everything when my ex came to talk to me about his money. She knew he had a scholarship and was just going to use the money for living expenses and an emergency fund. She asked me what I was going to do with it.
I said I was going to do what I always said I would. I was going to Europe to drink beer. She asked if she could have it for her step son. I thought about it and said no. Her husband is a decent enough person but he made it clear that he wasn't responsible for any expenses for my son. Beyond food and shelter and stuff obviously. Like I said he is decent.
I said I was not going to do that. I was going to go drink beer in my son's honour.
She says I'm wasting thousands of dollars. And I guess I am. I have to give back the government portion of the fund. But I don't care.
My ex thinks I'm being stupid and irresponsible wasting my son's money like this.
I don't care.
My son would laugh his ass off if he knew I actually did it.