My daughter’s degree is sitting on my credit cards

Dear Delyara, My daughter believes her university scholarship covered most of her education. It did not. When her funding was reduced, I told her not to worry and put tuition, rent, and books on credit cards. I did not want her working nights the way I did. She graduated last month with honors and has already begun applying for jobs. I owe nearly $48,000. She thinks I owe around six. Every congratulatory photograph contains a number only I can see. My husband knows part of the debt but not all of it. I transferred balances between cards until the minimum payments became larger than our mortgage. Yesterday, my daughter said she wants to save enough to take me on holiday because “you never let my education cost you anything.” I smiled and told her she deserved to enjoy her first salary. I am proud of her. That is what makes the lie difficult to confess. I turned love into hidden debt and called it support. Now her freedom has been purchased by financial fear she does not know belongs to our household.