Show Notes:
Parents want the best for their kids and that includes a secure job and a financially stable future. But, are you supporting your child’s future? Culturally we’ve been taught that there is one path to that goal and we push our kids to follow it. But what happens when our child doesn’t feel it’s the right path for them? In that case, parental expectations can put incredible pressure on our kids, causing stress, anxiety, family discord, and maybe even depression. No parent wants to create stress in their child’s life, but it can be scary to wonder “What if my child doesn’t want to go to college?”, and you may not even be sure about options other than college. On this episode of the Mighty Parenting podcast, hosts Judy Davis and Sandy Fowler explore these ideas. They help you look to see if you are supporting your child’s future. They will discuss parental expectations and the effect on kids, options for life after high school, and how to talk to your child about their future.
 
A Favorite Quote from the Show:
Kids excel when they have personal motivation and a desire to achieve a goal.
 
High Points:
There are rising rates of anxiety and depression in teens. One contributing factor is parents’ expectations.
Your belief system is affecting what you want for your child and how you interact with them, even if you don’t realize it.
Kids excel when they have personal motivation and a desire to achieve a goal.
When parents are comfortable with the path their child is heading down then parents won’t have anxiety and will find it easy to be supportive.
When parents don’t agree with their child’s path, they feel anxious and put pressure on their child. You can talk to your child and ask them if you are doing anything that is stressing them out.
Ask your child, “What do you see for your future? What interests you?”
If your child won’t fill out their applications for college or scholarships, that can be a sign that this is not the right path or the right time for them to attend.
Some kids aren’t ready for college yet at 17 or 18. Consider having a conversation with them about what the other options are.
There are 30,000,000 jobs that pay an average of $55,000/year that don’t require a bachelor’s degree.
Kids can earn a certificate or an associate degree, attend culinary school or trade school, start a small business or learn on the job.
Ask yourself what you want for your child then remember that there is more than one way to get there.
If you’re seeing that your child is feeling a lot of stress about their future, use this 3-step action plan:
Be open to the idea that there are other options and there isn’t one path your child needs to travel to reach their goals.
Encourage your child to come up with their own plan.
Allow your child to experience the consequences of their choices. This allows them to grow and become the adult you want them to be.
Many of our kids are going to hold jobs that don’t exist right now.
The most important things for our kids to learn to be successful in the workplace are how to:
Find information
Communicate with others what they know and what they need.

 
Our Guests:
Judy Davis, aka The Direction Diva, is a sought after motivational speaker, entrepreneur, author, and host of the Mighty Parenting Podcast. She is a small business and teen suicide prevention expert as well as an influencer in the military spouse community. Judy is passionate about providing programs and resources to families across the nation and is the CEO of DASIUM – a brand leading the way in depression, addiction and suicide prevention in teens and young adults.
A recipient of the 2016 Dove Real Beauty Award, Judy has also been quoted, featured, and profiled in a variety of publications and interviews including Smart Money Magazine, Hiring America TV, The Jim Bohannan show, Dr. Laura Berman Show, and more. She is regularly featured as a parenting and military lifestyle expert/guest on radio shows and panels highlighting the challeng