Would you be ok if your child grows up to be blue collar worker?

[Anonymous]

I don't have a snobbery issue with any job. However, I do think that the workplace will be entirely different in 30 years, which is when my son will be in his prime career years. We are moving toward the need for a universal basic income, whether we like it or not. Automation will take over most of what we think of as blue collar jobs today. Or they will still be available, but in developing countries.

So multilingualism is important. Critical thinking skills are important. Creativity is important. And I'm trying to help my child master these things. What he does with his life, then, is his choice.

[Anonymous]

My plumber's house is nicer than mine (I'm a lawyer). His kids go to private school, and he has vacation homes at the beach, the mountains, and in Greece.

My contractor/handyman similarly earns more than I do. He also flips houses and has vacation homes at the beach and on a lake.

Neither had student loan debt. They learned a trade and started their own business. They also travel a lot and are probably better equipped for retirement than I am.

When you work a trade, you can get paid in cash...and not necessarily claim everything for taxes. That's what I suspect they do.

[Anonymous]

Cop? Yes, very proud.

Tradesman, hair stylist, etc? Still proud.

Investment banker or lawyer with no soul? Not proud.

[Anonymous]

Yes. There's NOTHING wrong with not get a 4 year degree when you can go get a 2 year certificate in a trade.

[Anonymous]

I just had this conversation with my kid! I told her that if she chose to go into a trade I would be completely cool with that, as long as she can make a good living and will be happy. I have two advanced degrees, and she could probably make the same living I'm making comparatively speaking. We have her college saved for, but if it turns she goes to a two-year school, great for us!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plumber, electrician, or other skilled trade would be great. My dad was a union electrician, and he made a very good living and has a secure retirement.

Cashier or other unskilled labor would be a disappointment.

This. I have family members who became plumbers, electricians and construction workers. I have very high respect for those careers and would be proud if my children wanted to become skilled in a trade. We strongly encourage them to learn the basics regardless because they are good life skills. I want my children to love their careers no matter what they are.

[Anonymous]

Some of the greatest literary figures of the last century had "blue collar" jobs

Charles Bukowski is just one example.

[Anonymous]

Not only would I be "ok" if my child was a plumber or had another job in the trades, I'd be proud. I'm a construction attorney, and questions like this make me think that most people don't understand exactly how much skill those jobs require! I really admire people with technical, mechanical skills, although that's completely irrelevant to my love for my kids--I just want them to be kind and happy. Now if my sons became the wrong type of lawyers, that's something that might concern me

[Anonymous]

Everyone's on their own journey in life. There's no one size fits all solution. As long as they are self-supporting and happy, I am happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Considering how snobby everyone on the board is, what if your child grows up to end up working at Walmart as a cashier or becoming a plumber?

Or what if he grows up to become a cop?

What will you do?

I did things that were supposed to represent success (e.g., graduated with honors from Harvard Law School), and those turned out not to have been what contributed to my life being satisfying or meaningful.

I don’t care if my little daughter achieves superficial success. I think in the end it comes down to this: be happy, responsible, and kind.

If she is happy, responsible, and kind, I will be content.

[Anonymous]

No.

My DS and DD are, for lack of a more delicate way of saying it, better than that. Part of it is breeding/bloodline, part of it is familial expectations, and part is educational opportunities. But the summation is that neither will do service industry or blue collar work. That would be like using a Tiffany lamp to light a toolshed. It just doesn't happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No.

My DS and DD are, for lack of a more delicate way of saying it, better than that. Part of it is breeding/bloodline, part of it is familial expectations, and part is educational opportunities. But the summation is that neither will do service industry or blue collar work. That would be like using a Tiffany lamp to light a toolshed. It just doesn't happen.

Your poor kids.

[Anonymous]

Only if they're happy and they ended up there as a result of their own decision making.

Both my dad and brother have semi-skilled union jobs in a factory, and it's a really hard life. I'm a middle class white collar professional, and not only is my life easier, but I make more money, and I'm not any smarter than either of them. My dad--who is college educated--made compromises to support a family. My brother simply did not explore any options and "settled" for what was familiar.

So, I'd be happy if my kids ended up where my dad and brother did but not the way my dad and brother did--i.e. I want my kids to choose their profession, not default into it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Considering how snobby everyone on the board is, what if your child grows up to end up working at Walmart as a cashier or becoming a plumber?

Or what if he grows up to become a cop?

What will you do?

Cop, firefighter, military etc., I'd be very proud of my child. Plumber, electrician or any skilled trade I'd be totally fine with as well. Walmart or cashier? No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No.

My DS and DD are, for lack of a more delicate way of saying it, better than that. Part of it is breeding/bloodline, part of it is familial expectations, and part is educational opportunities. But the summation is that neither will do service industry or blue collar work. That would be like using a Tiffany lamp to light a toolshed. It just doesn't happen.

Ha ha ha! You are hilarious, pp!