Mother keeps saying I don't have a job

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it's time to sit down with her and have a one on one, heart to heart chat. She may be legitimately confused about what you are doing for a living. It might help her to understand that you pay taxes, save for retirement and that your company is growing more and more profitable each year.

Online businesses are so much more abstract than a physical office building or store would be. Maybe she would better understand the comparison to Facebook or Amazon...whatever example would work best.

This. Seriously this. I cannot believe people are suggesting keeping get away from your kids. Most people I know with internet companies are basically breaking even. It is more of a hobby than a career (in thier words). So she may not truly understand that your job is different. Show some compassion and assume that her remarks are out of ignorance instead of malace.

NP. Please listen to these two PPs! Talk to her rather than assuming the worst motivations on her part. She truly may have no real idea that your business is successful in the way she understands success. Some people from the nine to five, desk worker generation (like my own mom) read and hear that the Internet is full of scams and shams and puffery (much of it aimed at scamming retirees) so they may not believe there can really be legit, growing, useful businesses based online except maybe monsters like Amazon. It's not that they're not bright people; they just come from a very different working world where people produced things by working in an office, with others, on a staff, supervising others or being supervised. It's a tough adjustment for them sometimes. Maybe you can help her see what you really do.

If after that talk, she still insists you don't work--you do need to talk to her about not undermining you with the children. If she says it again in front of them you may have to turn to them in front if her and say that grandmother is mistaken because you do work. "Remember when I did do and so? That was part of my work," said to the kids. Then afterward explain to her that you need to correct misperceptions in front of the kids so they will understand you do work and you are proud of your business.