1) What do you do for a living? 2) Would you want your kids to follow in your footsteps? 3) What do your kids want to be? 4) How do you feel about that?
1) I’m an attorney and sustainability specialist. 2) I think I would, though holy cow I have no work-life balance. I would probably tell them be either a lawyer or an environmental professional, but not both. 3) DD wants to be an astronaut. She has for 3 years and she’s only 6. DS wants to be a race car driver, but he’s 4 so I don’t think he’s put a lot of thought into it. 4) I want my kids to do something that doesn’t require me to fear for their lives, so I’m a hard NOPE on both choices. Not that I get to make them, but if I could, I would totally have them be in boring desk jobs.
Post by mustardseed2007 on Mar 19, 2019 12:49:44 GMT -5
1) In House Attorney 2) No 3) Happy. A Doctor, Engineer, Architect, Teacher, whatever they are passionate about. I'm coming up with these ideas based on what I perceive they are good at, but it's pretty early to tell. 4) I think I grew up with my focus all wrong - too focused on Money. Yes you need money for sure, but you don't need as much as we need if your focus is on the right place and you're responsible.
1. Accountant but not a CPA. Self-employed 2. Maybe I have great flexibility and good balance most of the year. But being self employed means expensive health insurance and I make a whole lot less than someone who worked for a big firm. 3. Vet, zoo keeper, accountant, coach 3a: DD keeps asking me if she can do taxes this season. I told her no she has to be 18 and pass the test first (Oregon Law). 4. Whatever will make her happy and self sufficient.
1) Institutional Investment Adviser 2) Sure, if they wanted to 3) DD (6) wants to be a teacher or a mom, depending on the day, and DS1 (5) wants to be a construction worker 4) DH tells me not to be disappointed that DD says she wants to be a mom, because to her a mom likely means also having a career. I don't know if I'd want her to be a teacher - of course society needs great teachers, and it could be rewarding, but unfortunately I don't think it's a job that's as valued as it should be, and I want her to be financially secure. I think if DS1 continues to want to be a construction worker I'll try to steer him toward some kind of engineering, because again - financial security.
Post by traveltheworld on Mar 19, 2019 13:00:38 GMT -5
1. In-house lawyer at an institutional investment firm 2. Possibly. I do love what I do for the most part, and the money certainly doesn't hurt 3. DS (6) wants to be an engineer or fire truck driver; DD (3) has no idea yet 4. I'm fine what whatever they choose, so long as it's something they are reasonably good at, and make a decent living
Post by supertrooper1 on Mar 19, 2019 13:05:08 GMT -5
1) Client representative for technical issues with the federal government. 2) I wouldn't want my son to go into law enforcement, but into the government would be fine. 3) DS is all over the place with what he wants to be. He has said mechanic, but also meteorologist. 4) As he gets older, he'll figure out which direction he wants to go, so whatever he finds interesting is ok with me.
1) Part time marketing consultant. When I was full time, I ran digital marketing and marketing tech for a huge asset manager. 2) I enjoyed what I did, and it’s the type of job that requires constant learning. That said, I would lie down in front of their cars before I let them join my old company. 3) They both want to be babysitters and moms. DD1 is a very talented musician, so I’d love it if she could figure out some way to make a living with that. DD2 will do something in STEM for sure. 4) I don’t want them living in my basement. So as long as they are happy and can pay their bills, whatever they want.
Post by sandandsea on Mar 19, 2019 13:23:10 GMT -5
1. I’m a CPA. 2. I don’t know if I’d want my kids to do it. There are a lot of ways to go and it’s a “good” career but to really make it big it’s a ton of hours and dedication and politics. DHs career is more lucrative and I would push them more towards that. 3. A firefighter and also wants to create robots to fight fires and work with computers like DH (sw engineer). 4. The firefighter worries me. It’s noble and heroic but scary for a parent and it doesn’t pay that well. The robot part I’m more on board with and think he’d love it.
Post by justcheckingin73 on Mar 19, 2019 13:24:23 GMT -5
1. Marketing for a software company. 2. Maybe? I have great flexibility and I’m able to travel a bit so if that’s something that interests them, it would be a great path. 3. They are all over the place. DD talks about wanting to be a writer and DS has talked about working at a fast food place. 4. I think DD is on the right path to being a writer. I think she’d also make a great teacher. Personally, I’d like DS to aim higher but he’s only 8 so he has time
Post by greenmonkey1 on Mar 19, 2019 13:28:06 GMT -5
1) SAHM/Graduate Student 2) Sure. When I worked FT I was in higher education and before that public K-12 education. 3) DS1 (6) wants to be a police officer or a fireman. DS2 (4) wants to be a paleontologist or astronaut. DS3 (almost 2) has no clue, but DS1 says he can work on his crew. 4) I am pretty adamant that my boys do some sort of post-secondary education. I would prefer college, but if they want to go to trade school, then I'm ok with that as well as long as it is born out of a true desire rather than laziness. Hopefully they all want to go to college because I am pretty sure DH will not be supportive of other tracks and I really do not want to have that argument.
Post by covergirl82 on Mar 19, 2019 14:13:54 GMT -5
1. Compensation analyst (senior level) 2. No, but if they decided they wanted to be a compensation analyst, I would be fine with it. It's not a super exciting job, but I earn a good income and it should be a more flexible job in terms of schedule and WFH opportunity. 3. Really, I am open to my kids' future careers. Right now, DD wants be a computer coder/programmer (for games or more creative things), so we are looking for opportunities for her to explore that. DS still wants to be a pro football player, which I am hesitant about because of injuries. He's really good in math, so I'd like him to consider finance, engineering, or data science. (ETA for DS: I tell him he needs to be a football analyst for ESPN if the pro football player thing doesn't work out.) 4. In general, as long as they are doing work they enjoy (or at least work they can get up on a regular basis and do without hating), have the work-life balance they want, and make enough money to support the lifestyle they want, that would be fine with me. If they pick a more dangerous job (e.g., police officer, oil rig worker, etc.) or something that doesn't align with how they are being raised (e.g., stripper), I would have issues.
1. CPA in the construction industry 2. Maybe...I put in a ton of hours to get where I am and it's tough being in a male dominated industry. Trying to be the change. 3. DD1 thinks it would be so boring to do my job sitting in an office all day. She loves sweets and cooking shows and wants to open her own ice cream shop. DD2 wants to be a teacher. DD3 is one. 4. It's too early to tell but I hope they do what makes them happy and suits their personality. I agree with DD1 that she wouldn't make it at a desk job and she loves to talk to people. DD2 is really creative so I hope she pursues the arts.
1. Department Head and Librarian 2. Maybe, but the pay could be better 3. DD- librarian and professional soccer player, DS hasn't really said in a while. Some kind of professional sports. 4. We are not that gifted genetically, so professional sports are not going to happen. I think its a phase, so I don't think I need to clue them in that they are not going to be professional athletes at this point. If DS is still really into sports he could something in the sports industry maybe?
1) Health Education Supervisor for the Dept. of Public Health 2) If it was their burning passion. I kind of fell into it because I was split between teacher and social work. This is a combination of both. Great flexibility for a parent, pay could be better. Benefits used to be fantastic, but the legislature seems determined to ruin us, so if that persists, I would say run far and fast. 3) DS wants to study Agribusiness. I was perplexed, because we are not farmers by a stretch. However, looking into it, this is a very broad and can be lucrative field. It can be anything from sales, business management, environmental, engineering. He has been stuck on this for a while and even researched which college has the best program, so maybe this is it for him. DS was pretty set on labor/delivery nurse, pediatrician. Now she is thinking Psychology. She is only 13 so I am sure it will change. 4) So far, I am good with both. I want them to have a solid, marketable, self sustaining post secondary degree, and so far they seem to be heading that way. DS was leaning military for a while, but I have tried to steer him away. Selfish of me I realize, but much of our family lives far away due to military careers. After the treatment of my dad in the VA healthcare system, I don't really want to steer my kid to people who treat their "honored" service members with substandard, horrible care.
1. Project manager 2. They could...it’s fun enough 3. DD14 - Children’s minister DD11 - her own business - bakery, coffee shop, book store and politician or teacher and politician DS7 - politician 4. I can see all of them in the roles they imagine. I can actually really see DD11 in a trade - learning it then opening her own company and expanding - I am pretty sure I will have 2-3 liberal arts majors with business courses mixed in based on what I see now. I can really see middle doing a trade and a totally non traditional college path (can also see her early acceptance somewhere totally freaking random and rushing fall of her freshman year). Super curious about that kid.
Post by HeartofCheese on Mar 19, 2019 14:58:20 GMT -5
1) What do you do for a living? Attorney, juvenile justice for a nonprofit 2) Would you want your kids to follow in your footsteps? Only if it didn't put them in debt for a thousand years. 3) What do your kids want to be? DS wants to be a scientist. DD wants to be a unicorn. 4) How do you feel about that? I'm cool with it. Would love a boy whose was still motivated by his childhood curiosity as an adult. Would love a girl whose make-believe world was real.
1. Biomedical Scientist 2. Eh, if they were really into it, sure. 3. DS wants to be a LEGO designer. 4. Only if he can work remotely and not live full time in Copenhagen. I could see him doing really well in this type of creative role. I’ve tried to convince him he wants to aim for Pixar. I think the key will be getting him a really solid and flexible education in programming and engineering to fold into his artistic skills.
Post by librarychica on Mar 19, 2019 19:05:57 GMT -5
1) Corporate research 2) If they wanted to, it’s a fine field. I would not necessarily want them to get there by way of a library science degree like I did because it is less and less marketable every year and people have a lot of preconceived notions about library science. 3) DD1 wants to work with animals — veterinarian, bug scientist or owner of a reptile store have all been floated. DD2 wants to be a teacher or a dog. 4) What they do is largely up to them so long as they can support themselves. I just want them to happy and comfortable. DD1 has always loved animals and science and is very compassionate so that kind of field may suit. I don’t imagine DD2 is going to find much success being a dog but she is only 4. H wants them to both be engineers like daddy, though.
1) What do you do for a living? Commercial lending. 2) Would you want your kids to follow in your footsteps? Sure. It’s boring as hell but I have great work life balance and the money is pretty decent. 3) What do your kids want to be? DD wants to be a police sketch artist and hairdresser. DS wants to be a fire truck. 4) How do you feel about that? She’ll need some practice since she’s not great at either. I’m hoping his choices evolve.
1. Chief of Staff (not my actual title but best reflects what I do) at a philanthropy. I used to be a theater producer and casting director.
2. Sure. The philanthropy work is pretty great. Hard to get into but it seems to be easy to stay. The arts work paid basically no dollars but had incredible community so it didn’t matter so much. We’re stable enough now to be a safety net if DD wants to go into the arts.
3. Vet and architect. She plans to be a vet as her day job and design buildings in her spare time.
4. Fine I guess? She’s great at math and draws pretty expressively for a 6yo so I could see her being an architect. I suspect she’s too squeamish to actually be a vet but she’ll figure that out on her own in time.
1. Logistics Analysis with a splash of database admin 2. Yeah, I really like what I do and it is a starting position that can take you a lot of different directions 3. SS1- Computer Science SS2- Orthopedic Surgeon DS- pirate DD- she says Hi 4. SS1- I am good with it. SS2- As much a I love that kid; he is not going to be a doctor. He doesn't have the self discipline, he is not a problem solver and he has zero focus. He is also 14 so I guess that could change, but I doubt it. I really don't think he will be successful in college. We have to fight with him to do homework and half the time his mom does it for him. I think he needs to go to a trade school and get some maturity before attempting college. DS- I would be very disappointed if he was a pirate, but maybe he will be a sea captain.
1. Software test engineer 2. I wouldn't mind if any of my kids followed in my footsteps. 3. DD is staring to show a greater interest in software coding and engineering. She told me that she wants to be an engineer someday. DS1 said he wants to be a racecar driver. DS2 is 2. 4. I think DD has the drive and interest to be an engineer. It would be a great choice for her. She is in tech club at school and is loving it. I signed her up for 2 engineering camps this summer and she is super excited. I'm sure DS1 will change his mind a million times before college. I just want my kids to be happy and self-sustaining in their career choices. I also don't want them to accrue an outrageous amount of student loan debt.
1) What do you do for a living? Non-practicing attorney now marketing director for private university
2) Would you want your kids to follow in your footsteps? Not if I am the one paying for law school. ;-) DH and I are both attorneys. We were both with big firms for years but switched when they started school, so they have only seen the more relaxed version of attorneys. My current is not the most fulfilling. The job pays lousy, but I am only 75% time with a flexible schedule and get amazing benefits including tuition for me, DH and kids. It works for us.
3) What do your kids want to be? DS (10) wants to do something in the aviation industry and DD (7) wants to be a mathematician.
4) How do you feel about that? We're okay with whatever they choose, but want them to realize that they can always switch paths. DH completed an LLM last year because he wants to go a different direction.
1) Engineering professor at a big research university 2) No, my work life balance is not good. And I spend way too much of my time competing for federal funding that only has a 10% success rate instead of doing actual science and teaching, which are the parts that I really like. 3) What do your kids want to be? DD wants to be an astronaut, DS wants to either be a civil and mining engineer. 4) How do you feel about that? Very few people become astronauts, so I think that it would be unlikely. However, if she wanted to work for NASA or something I think that would be great. She also wants to be a mom, which I suspect in her mind also includes have a job. Civil engineering is a steady field, so I have no issues with that.
sdlaura - zero in terms of exposure or encouragement, but they always supported me. I was left entirely to figure it out myself. There were no major or career discussions ever. I chose the schools to which I applied, I chose the kinds of jobs I interviewed for near graduation — it wasn’t a topic they discussed with me.
I often say IDK where I came from. My Dad grew up poor, joined the Navy under age, and made a great career for himself in sales. My mom had zero ambition and only finished high school. Both were readers, but neither were oriented in a corporate way, neither was nerdy, neither was ever engaged in the kinds of ECs I did (sports or the nerdy ones). To this day I look at my family and totally don’t get them versus me.
Post by ilovelucyvv on Mar 20, 2019 10:58:21 GMT -5
1. I am an auditor by trade but what I am doing now is marketing and customer support for the organization. 2. I think H and I could see DD following in our footsteps if that was what she wanted. Not sure about DS yet. We wouldn't be against the idea. 3 & 4. They haven't expressed desire to be anything in particular yet. I could see DD wanting to be an Art major like my sister but we would want to steer her away from that.
Post by covergirl82 on Mar 20, 2019 11:09:32 GMT -5
sdlaura, not much. Which is surprising, given that my parents were very involved with my sister picking engineering (because of her math aptitude). My sister said after her freshman year in college that she was thinking about switching to a music major, and my parents told her absolutely not, that music can be a hobby, and she could not waste her ability in math by becoming a music major. I remember taking some assessment my junior year of high school, and it listed a number of majors/careers that were ideal for someone who scored like I did. One of them was psychology, which sounded interesting to me, so I picked that. I don't recall my parents trying to sway me away from it, although they did ask about what career(s) I was interested in pursuing with that degree. I figured out while in college that I thought Human Resources would be a good career path for me.