Mom States Her Son Is ‘Not Starting’ A Job At 15 & She Will ‘Fund’ Him To Pursue His Interests

Sep 01, 2023

While most parents are often urging their teenagers to get part-time jobs for experience and financial independence, Esther Boyd, a single mother from Gold Coast, Australia, has ignited a blazing debate by staunchly opposing the norm. With her viral video and unconventional parenting philosophy, the 33-year-old mom propelled a discussion about teenage employment and privilege into the spotlight.

The video, uploaded on August 2023 and has garnered over 2.2 million views on TikTok, had Boyd detail her candid conversation with her son about his friends having part-time jobs. The mother recounted how she told her teenager, Noah, that she didn’t want the same for him. She also told her son to observe his young friends because they were going to be working their entire lives from then on. 

The single mother further encouraged her son to seek his interests. Perhaps he’ll find a job where he can observe and learn instead of focusing on getting paid. Boyd is determined to give Noah a different experience. She adamantly believes that teenagers should have the freedom to explore so they can figure out their passion in life first and not face the pressures of employment at such a young age. 

Boyd's perspective is rooted in her own life journey. Having started working as a waitress at just 14 years old, she spent her 20s searching for a career that resonated with her. According to the New York Post, the mother currently works as a photographer and marketing coordinator, and she looked back on her early employment years with a sense of skepticism. 

The mother affirmed that she can provide for her son if he needs to pursue his interests and passions. Their family's comfortable financial situation is, however, at the heart of the heated online debate surrounding her stance.

"I just think it's insane to tell a small child who's like 14 that they should go out in the world and get a job for experience as if they're not gonna experience that their whole f***ing life,” Boyd said.

She added, “He’s not gonna retire until he’s like 100. He’s not starting at 15.”

Boyd said, "I can fund your existence." Boyd's stance, however, left divided opinions. Some viewers commended her for allowing her son to enjoy his teenage years without stressing over work, while others argued that part-time jobs provide valuable life skills, confidence, and work ethic.

Some also contended that Boyd's stance could only be considered in a context where the family had the means to provide for their child. Others shared stories of their own experiences, illustrating how their teenage employment positively impacted their later lives.

In a follow-up video, Boyd reacted to a commenter who said she started working at 13 and now runs her own franchise at 28 while raising a family. However, Boyd explained that this was the exact mindset that she was not drilling on her son.

“Why is our work ethic such an important valuable skill? Why are we valuing ourselves and each other on how hard we can work?” Boyd raised the question. “I wanna go out and lay under a tree, and chase butterflies or count the stars.” 

Speaking with The Star, Boyd believes that parents must focus on having conversations with their children about their interests and what they will enjoy doing rather than landing a job that pays well. 

"I don’t think it’s very smart to keep pushing kids into work so young just to get life skills that we could actually teach them ourselves if we had a bit more time," she said.

Does Esther Boyd’s parenting resonate with you, or do you think teenagers must start getting a job experience? What does your circle of friends think about this? Tell them about this story for an interesting discussion!