I doubt that it had anything to do with not having the money to pay, but more like what the other poster said about only one seat left and her mom declining in favor of Michelle and her coach. Kwan is the last person I would think of to be that "low" to her own mom in that situation. She lives in my neighborhood in L.A. and sometimes roller blades around the area. She's very low key, unassuming (though one heck of a roller blader!). If she sees other kids around she routinely asks them to join her. My daughter and her friends have done this several times. If you didn't know otherwise, you would think she is just another 20-something skating around; that is other than the occasional spin and double loops!