Reply to Why Affluent Parents Put So Much Pressure on Their Kids

Forum Index » Tweens and Teens

Reply to "Why Affluent Parents Put So Much Pressure on Their Kids"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I think there are many ways to succeed. The HYP route is one, but not the most fun one. There is the entrepreneur route that has been mentioned, but I have friends who are scriptwriters, tv producers, high up in retail etc.

I am not going to push my kids too hard on the academics, because in my experience people who thrived at this are no happier, and not even necessarily richer, than those that chose other paths.[/quote]

+1  Also, I think a lot of the anxiety is due to how limited our social circles have become (see the 40% college thread).  If the only successful people you know are ones who went to highly selective colleges like you then you assume that's the ONLY WAY to be successful in life.  If you recognized that there are a lot of people in the world who have happy, productive lives without following that narrow path then you can relax a bit and help your kid figure out what is right for them.

DH and I both have master's degrees (state universities) but among our family and friends are plenty of people doing well without being college grads -- my brother has worked as a computer programmer since HS (self-taught, did a year of CC and the dropped out - he was making so much money in his PT job that he preferred to just work), a cousin is CEO of a commercial electrical contracting company (he did an electrician apprenticeship instead of college), my niece started at a large company in an entry level phone bank position and has worked her way up to a very good salary.  I also know plenty of people with their own businesses and some who went into the military and eventually completed degrees but not on the just-after-HS timetable.

The common thread in those who are successful is that they have a strong work ethic and are able to take the initiative to learn what they need to know.   So, my main concern is not pushing my kids to have straight-As but to encourage hard work and initiative.  I do expect my kids to have some additional education/training after HS. Yes, I'd prefer that they go to college but if they'd rather go into a trade apprenticeship, join the military, or have some other clearly articulated plan as to how they are going to create a productive life, then that is fine.  It's their life, not mine.  [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics