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Is it better to chose and drive your child into a career or let them pick and let them chase it themselves?

If you're the driven parent you'll find out all you can, sign them up to anything and everything linked to their desired role, you'll attend and cheer them on.

But if you're the laid back parent, you'll let the child decide what they want to do. When they do you'll wish them well, if they invite you to things you might turn up.
But if they need it you'll offer them encouragement.

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Threepio

I like to think that as a parent I'm pretty laid back. However, your question is very valid.

I found myself (many years ago) urging my oldest to go into the same branch of the military that I served in vice the branch he was initially lured to. I justified that by telling him that his mother would never sign the papers that "allowed" him to be put in harms way. It worked out well for him as he did sign up for the same branch I had been in and has done rather well for himself.

So...while it worked for me/us.... I wouldn't recommend for any parent to focus their energies on that. With my youngest, I took a more laid back approach and let him find his own way, providing guidance only when needed.

SO... I'm in the "Let them find their own way" camp...

Mellowgirl · 31-35, F

@Threepio I've struggled to find my way in life.
My mum works in a good job, but never shared the details really as to what she does. She often moaned and complained about her job which I found rather repulsive. Also Her response to me asking questions about anything was go and look it up. Consequently it left me feeling really uncomfortable with talking to others about anything I was thinking about especially surrounding work/networking etc.

I can see now why some of my peers said I was stupid. I had no clue. I was always just trying stuff just to see and enduring some of the harshest environments that just didn't fit.
Had I had been better prepared not just from reading a book I may have done better.

My dad he's a different kind of person, had I spent more time with him I'd have done better at knowing things.

Tbh they weren't the most supportive of parents