A parent's field guide to supporting (not steering) your child's career choice
Six practical shifts that turn parents from decision-makers into decision-partners — and help teenagers actually listen.
The parent's paradox
You know more than your child. You care more than anyone else. And yet, the more you push, the less they seem to hear. This is not a parenting failure. It's a developmental feature.
Six shifts that change the conversation
1. Ask before you tell. 'What do you think?' is a better opener than 'You should do…'
2. Separate concern from opinion. Naming your worry is different from prescribing the answer.
3. Offer options, not orders. Two good paths beats one 'right' path.
4. Bring in evidence, not anecdotes. A cousin's story is not a career strategy.
5. Book the third party. A neutral counsellor often makes the same argument you've been making — and it lands.
6. Trust the plan. Long-term plans stop feeling scary when they're on paper.
