How do you explain to an 11 year old that he can not be a spy when he grows up?

[belledechocolatefluffybunny]

I've tried all the arguments I can think of. I need some help now please.

Thankyou.

Could he not join M15?
He could become a spy couldn't he?
Just not quite like James Bond though

Why can't he?

Why cant he be a spy?
A spy is a proper job.

Why can't he ? A career in MI5/6 is a good one, or he could be something like a cryptanalyst intercepting and decoding transmissions

Maybe he could do spy-related stuff when he grows up....like wheelie bin monitor for the council.

because he doesn't go to eton or harrow

He'd have to work very hard at school in order to be one. That's no bad thing!

He just wants a gun! It's not a safe job, I'd rather he was a peace loving hippy like me. Where have I gone wrong? (sob)

What about Cambridge though?/
Plenty of recruiting goes on there doesn't it?

Tell him that if he studies hard and goes to uni he can be a spy. Google civil service jobs and you'll find links to MI5 and MI6 recruitment.

I bet spies are not part of public sector cuts! Why ca't he be a spy? You might have to discuss what being a spy really means but no need to put him off yet - need good grades, lots of extra curricular activities to be one - surely will encourage him to be a lovely young man?

BCFB, that's what always happens
Polar opposites

Work hard? He has an IQ of something stupidly high, he doesn't need to work hard

I suppose there's advantages in this somewhere??

apparently it's all different these days, not eton & harrow at all.

MI6 recruitment pages - which vacancy does he fancy?

Why shouldn't he become a spy? Great incentive to work hard & get into Cambridge or Oxford - just explain he needs a first in maths from Trinity .

Or do you have political objections? If so I don't think you can reasonably stop him if he still wants to try when older - generally considered patriotic . . .

To be a spy he'd have to work hard... Harder than he is now.

Perhaps mI5 have all ready signed him up and he's reporting back on you?

More helpfully, can you not tell him that they normally select people who are not close to family and have no loved ones, so that they cannot be bribed, or worse have family members kidnapped and hurt.

or if he has been watching movies where the family don't know he is a spy

That in real life if something went wrong they would be pulled of the mission, given a new name and identiy and never be able to see anyone they have ever cared about again?

I know they are a bit depressing, but as you said you have tried all arguements I thought you might want serious points too.

I think he should be a vet. He loves animals, very bright and scientifically minded.

Why can't he be a spy exactly?

he can, though.

DS aged 5 wants to be an astronaught
I have explained he will need tip-top grades and physical health to study astro-physics at university and then onto NASA

Go t the MI5 website. DH says they advertise jobs and that you don't necessarily have to be a gradate. MI6 recruit, so he'd need to go to Cambridge ! He really CAN be a spy!!

If he just wants a gun can't he join the army Cadets?

Oh, let him be a spy, it would be fun.

He'd have to work very hard and hand in his homework on time

Serious points are good (he should be a vet), being a spy must be a terrible job. He wants to work for MI6. Do you think they do taster days?