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Original poster

What would be your dream careers for your DC?

54 replies

heartofglass23 · 04/01/2024 10:06

Before they were born/when they were small I'd imagine the kinds of careers I'd have liked them to pursue.

(Kind of things I'm interested in but didn't do myself for various reasons)

They won't do these things now as they have other interests & that's good/well supported by us.

But what kind of careers did others imagine for future/potential DCs (ie before you knew what their individual talents are)?

Mine were:
Architect
Lawyer
Something in the film industry
International aid worker
University professor/researcher
Politician
Singer/Musician
Seismologist
Small business owner

OP posts:
Ozgirl75 · 04/01/2024 11:02

My son recently took part in Model UN and for the first time said, this is a career he would love to do - something that makes a difference but is also about negotiating, about world affairs, is relatively academic. I’d be very happy if he followed that path, but to be honest as long as they both find something they quite like and that pays pretty well I don’t mind.

I believe my youngest boy would make a brilliant teacher as he is kind, empathetic, patient and cheerful.

WombatBombat · 04/01/2024 11:02

I could genuinely see DS being a professional cricketer.

He’s only 3, but has great hand eye coordination & balance. We also all love cricket and have family in Australia so would be a good excuse to spend a few months there!

GreyCarpet · 04/01/2024 11:03

I've only ever wanted my children to be happy.

I don't care what career they choose as long as they find it personally fulfilling and don't dread doing it every day.

It seems like a really odd thing to have a 'dream career' for them. You can't live vacriously through your children. Their lives are their own.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Jobs
shepherdsangeldelight · 04/01/2024 11:06

As someone who's spent their whole life "failing" to meet my parents' dreams for me, I don't think it's particularly healthy to have dreams for your children. Let them have their own dreams.

Couchant · 04/01/2024 11:08

winniethepooped · 04/01/2024 10:52

@Couchant I think it's just a hypothetical thread of interesting thoughts/dreams/hopes not that any parent here is going to push these things on their child. Well that's the way I see it.

It’s the ‘wanting the best for their children’ bit of your post I’m taking issue with.

Echobelly · 04/01/2024 11:18

@HumphreyCobblers - yes, I sympathise. We are fortunate to be in a position where we can probably support, for a while at least, a child taking a chancy option like classical music, but it's still a nerve-wracking thought!

SecretSantaHelp · 04/01/2024 11:35

Whatever makes them happy. Ideally something with a good work life balance, if that's what's important to them.

Ragwort · 04/01/2024 11:40

Wombat I know your DS is only 3 but there are some fantastic schemes around for young people to go overseas on short term contracts to play cricket .. my DS is currently on a scheme and having a fantastic time playing cricket in NZ ! (Not exactly a professional ... but great experience Grin). It was really straight forward to apply, get a visa etc.

SquashPenguin · 04/01/2024 11:41

Not born yet but we’d be thrilled if they were in a very successful heavy metal band 🤣

WombatBombat · 04/01/2024 14:03

That sounds amazing @Ragwort - well done to your DS for taking up such a great experience.

I think ultimately we want him to enjoy sport as we both did, and have gained so many life skills and friends through it. We are very lucky to live in a renowned cricketing area with private schools etc so if he continues to love cricket, then fantastic!

Bloom15 · 04/01/2024 14:10

Well DS who is 8 wants to be (all of this has been said in the last 2 weeks):
WWE wrestler
Singer
Lawyer
Historian

I don't think I could up with anything else as he has covered all bases

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 04/01/2024 14:11

I would like my son to be an entrepreneur and make money sleeping so that he can pursue his interests and family life in his free time- not to slave away on a salary

Floofydawg · 04/01/2024 14:13

I don't believe in imposing my ideals on my child and I just want her to do whatever makes her happy. Kids have too much pressure put on them by (some) parents.

Beezknees · 04/01/2024 14:14

Genuinely, I don't care and I never thought about it. I just hoped that DS wouldn't get a girl pregnant at 17 like I was, anything else was OK with me!

He wants to be a vet and he's doing GCSEs this year. He's very clever, unlike me.

DewHopper · 04/01/2024 14:18

Whatever makes them the happiest.

outdooryone · 04/01/2024 14:32

I would never want to have a specified career for my children.
They need to be happy and healthy, contribute positively to the world, and do what they feel they want to for a job.

commonground · 04/01/2024 14:32

Since having kids is a largely selfish and self-centred act, I would say something useful to me. So plumber, electrician, doctor, hairdresser. Or something to entertain - artist, pop star, actor.

Failing that, I would follow Picasso's mum's advice and build up resilience and self-belief in my child:

"My mother said to me, if you are a soldier, you will became a general. If you are a monk you will become the Pope. Instead, I was a painter and became Picasso".

winniethepooped · 04/01/2024 22:42

commonground · 04/01/2024 14:32

Since having kids is a largely selfish and self-centred act, I would say something useful to me. So plumber, electrician, doctor, hairdresser. Or something to entertain - artist, pop star, actor.

Failing that, I would follow Picasso's mum's advice and build up resilience and self-belief in my child:

"My mother said to me, if you are a soldier, you will became a general. If you are a monk you will become the Pope. Instead, I was a painter and became Picasso".

Genuinely curious why you think it's a selfish and self centred act??

I'm presuming you're commenting something like this only to spark a reaction but still, I'm curious nonetheless

Saschka · 04/01/2024 22:55

DS is desperate to be a palaeontologist. I would fully support that, though I’d rather he did something adjacent that paid better.

I’m a doctor, I’d be ok with him doing that. Or any other profession that I think he could have a vocation in. Both DH and DBro work in advertising and linked industries, and both of them hate their jobs because they don’t believe in the value of what they do, but equally are too well paid to leave and do a passion job on half the salary.

Moving out of London so he doesn’t have to chase money to pay off a mortgage might be my main aspiration for him.

Shedmass8 · 07/01/2024 19:58

commonground · 04/01/2024 14:32

Since having kids is a largely selfish and self-centred act, I would say something useful to me. So plumber, electrician, doctor, hairdresser. Or something to entertain - artist, pop star, actor.

Failing that, I would follow Picasso's mum's advice and build up resilience and self-belief in my child:

"My mother said to me, if you are a soldier, you will became a general. If you are a monk you will become the Pope. Instead, I was a painter and became Picasso".

You could just as easily make the point that choosing to not have children is selfish and self-centred.

CharlottePimpernel · 07/01/2024 20:01

Something sporty. She loves football. She wants to work with me, which is very sweet but unfortunately not much use because I'm a cleaner!

weegiemum · 07/01/2024 20:08

My dc are now at the stage that they have or are actively looking for a career (all early 20s).

Dd1 graduated from a top Art school this year. Still looking for a creative job and waitressing right now.

Ds is a first year nursing student

Dd2 graduated with her HND in beauty therapy this year. Her dream is to open a salon with her best friends from work, she currently works in a posh hotel spa.

2chocolateoranges · 07/01/2024 20:10

Whatever keeps them happy.

eldest has graduated from uni and is a trainee chartered accountant.

youngest is studying engineering at university.

AceofPentacles · 07/01/2024 20:45

When I was naming DS I thought he sounds like a tv newsreader. "And now, the ten o'clock news, with Son of Pentacles."

Tessisme · 07/01/2024 20:51

When DS1 stopped wanting to be a YouTuber🤣 and decided he would like to be an engineer, I was delighted. But I am slowly adjusting my expectations as he is not massively academic, despite getting a very high score in the Transfer Test (11 plus equivalent in NI - yep, we are stuck in the past!) So a career in engineering was my dream for him for a while, but it was short lived! I hope I'm wrong, but I just can't see him putting the work in. When he was small, I never gave it any thought beyond hoping it would be something he actually liked turning up for every day.

DS2 wants to be a YouTuber, but I think he would make a fantastic comedian or a mathematician.

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