I have a 16-year-old son. I’m in my early 30s (had him very young) and a professional footballer. My son also dreams of becoming a successful footballer (he’s been playing since he was 6), but he’s just… not great. He’s good, but not great - and in this extremely competitive industry you need to be at least great in order to even stand a chance. So I told him, as someone who’s been doing this for a very, very long time & is active in this sphere, that he should find another, more attainable dream. He took it as me not believing in him, but I’m just objective and realistic.

  • procrastitron@lemmy.world
    233·
    2 days ago

    Get one of your professional contacts to honestly evaluate him.

    You can’t objectively evaluate him since he’s your kid, and any advice he hears from you will be subject to scrutiny since you’re his parent.

    If you’re right then your message will be more believable from a third party, and if you’re wrong then they will hopefully catch that.

    Either way, you are right to try to set him up for success; that’s your job as his parent.