What did your parents wanted/expected you to do and what did you end up doing?

Question

This question can be about anything, any context works. It can related to your career or academics or relationship or certain choices.

My dad wanted me to study engineering or technology (BE or BTech) and my mom wanted me to study filmmaking or acting. I ended up applying for Economics. Now they never judged me or shamed me for making my choice, they're quite happy. Before I made my decision of studying Economics I asked them if they could choose, what degree would they choose for me and that's their answers.

Telekinetic-Potato · Accepted Answer

My dad wanted me to be a programmer. Really badly. Like I build my first computer in the 1st grade. He made me take one apart, explain what all the things do and put it back together and then I was allowed to even use one 😂

I didn't realize it back then but he was always trying to teach me to think like a problem solver. He never gave me a straight answer right away, always rewarded learning a new skill, got mad at me whenever I did anything that even felt like a shortcut if he thought I couldn't do it the right way perfectly.

I remember some project he needed to buy a book to figure a part of it out. Programming books are like 300+ pages. He made sure I saw him read it from beginning to end instead of using the table of contents to find what he needed because he wanted "the full context" 😂 I mean, he went to lengths that were clearly insane.

But I watched him come home super late and I really hated tedious tasks which made me a pretty terrible coder. Because somehow I'd always make some kind of syntax error the stupid fucking compiler would randomly be like

"I know exactly where and what the problem is but I'm not going to tell you, in fact, I'm going to hilight a line that has nothing to do with what broke"

I was like alright screw this.

Then I got serious about editing and vfx and I got a camera and the better I was doing the more controlling he bacame.

It got to the point he took my engine apart and let it rust out because he didn't understand why I needed to work at a pizzeria so that I could afford to edit wedding videos at a pristigous company for minimum wage.

He kinda is this anxious guy who and he thinks that's a strength. Which he turned it into one. But after all the sabotage my life had been through leading up to that moment, it was hard to be phased by anything.

And he hated it. 😂 especially when I had a business and then my life was like a cartoon.

Maybe_Maybe_not · Accepted Answer

I don't remember hearing of clear career, academics or relationship expectations. I remember expectations about critical thinking, and I did the job, early on.

I remember the "do your homework" up until middle school, that line gradually disappeared from the scene though. When hitting high school, the care level was down to 0 lol. It then switched to "get your HS diploma then get out of the house".

beenherebefore · Accepted Answer

I don't think my Parents ever wanted me to follow a certain career. They were aware I didn't like school and wasn't a great student. They suggest I'd be a Nurse and I hated the idea. I don't have a degree but I did two vocational courses in two completely different fields, worked in one of the fields for about five years and absolutely hated it. Eventually I decided to pursue another career and I'm very happy with that decision, for privacy reasons I won't disclose what I do but I've been in the same industry for the past ten years and this job allowed me to be come independent, I make more money than friends with degrees and my Parents are obviously very proud of me.
Now with my brother it was very different, he's always been a great student but he also loved arts specifically music and drawing. My Mom always put some pressure on him to become an Engineer. My brother eventually got his degree in computer engineering, I always knew that wasn't his dream job. He finished Uni and didn't find a job until at least a year later. Then stayed on the same job for about four years, moved out of my Parents job and was promoted a few times. I don't know exactly what happened but he quit his job and things have gone downhill since then. He moved back to my Parents house in 2021 and hasn't had a job since then.
Parents will always want the best for us but sometimes we have to make certain decisions for ourselves regardless of their opinions.

thegreenyogi · Accepted Answer

My dad wanted me to get a degree in political science and international relations.. I ended up nursing him and taking his place in the family buisness... and in my free time I make my thirst for knowledge my quest but on my own terms.

Advisor Smith · Accepted Answer

My parents’ script for me was very traditional:
- My father wanted me to become a doctor—“safe, respected, stable.”
- My mother leaned toward chartered accountancy—“numbers never fail you.”

I was fascinated by how businesses, people, and education systems work together, so I chose business and later did an MBA at Harvard, then moved into education and career development.

They were uneasy at first, but once they saw I was committed and thriving, their expectations shifted from “title” to “impact and happiness.”

MrChinaski · Answer

Elementary school class. Teacher asks kids to share what their father does for a living. Tommy: He's a fireman. Bobby: He's a policeman. Jimmy: He plays piano in a whorehouse.

Teacher, shocked, calls Jimmy's dad into school to talk to him.

'I am quite concerned. The class were all sharing about what their parents do and little Jimmy said you play piano in a whorehouse?'

'No, no. Actually... I'm an economist. But how do you break a thing like that to a little kid?'

HawkPerception · Answer

Because my Oxford IQ test results were pretty high, my dad wanted me to be an actuary or engineer. My mom kinda just went with the flow. She just wanted me to go to university and be successful. I haven't done anything they wanted me to do. Never really developed enough discipline to stick to something, and everything bored me for the most part. The only thing I found fun in school was design technology and occasionally gym class when we actually did fun physical activities. And when I was a kid in elementary school, I wanted to be an inventor. So it's pretty apparent I always liked the concept of design.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

They wanted me to be smart and had let me find my own interests by giving plenty of intellectual and practical stimulation.
I did both.
The 'expected' that I'd do.
The absense of their pressure, and the presence of their confidence in me made me the extraordinary and borderline genius person that I am today 😇

Nikki1989 · Answer

The only good thing my parents did for me was to put me into piano lessons at the age of 8. However, rather than becoming a full-time professional musician, I fell into a career in real estate.

Abbycado · Answer

Not quite there yet, but they never steered me any any direction. It was my choice.

sage2021 · Answer

Since I was raised by a single mom, I was given only one opinion.
My Mom thought that I would be a good actress. I did not!

I ended up doing two things with my life that I love.

Being a Mom ❤️

Being a Secretary (Admin. Assistant)

LifeHitMeandRan · Answer

Mom wanted me to go into college right after high school. She did NOT want me to join the military because she went to war and saw the horrors over there.

I ended up going into the military, going to war and seeing all the horrors over there.

However, the military gave me time to figure out who I am and what I want out of life. And looking back, we both agree college wasn't right for me. I am currently a bus driver making $30 an hour.

RandomGirl42 · Answer

My parents wanted me to be me and go out in the world and be successful at whatever I wanted to be successful at which turns out I'm successful at being me and ended up living pretty much in their backyard. 😳

Bricealan · Answer

@apulu_backagain Just to finish college. Period.

Agape93 · Answer

To be a docile and submissive catholic wife and mother. I'm none of those.

Anonymous · Answer

My dad was preoccupied with the idea of all his children becoming professional

I didn't know what I wanted to study

Looking back I should have done computer science

But I followed him and did engineering

That's been fine, I had a successful career. I ended up in computer software anyway

The other area of interference:

I was engaged to this girl

And TBH I didn't know what I wanted

And she was my first serious girlfriend

Anyway he + my Mom made it clear they didn't approve. I was.. Don't Care
And broke it off
That's one thing that annoyed me.. The control they had

Purpleronnie · Answer

My dad wasn’t in my life long enough and my mum wanted only what I wanted. Being healthy and safe were her only concerns , probably because that involved the least amount of parenting.

OneViewpoint · Answer

LOL, my parents never expected me. I was outside of their ability to imagine or understand. Their expectations were far more modest than my curiosity and ambition.

Still-alive · Answer

Nah the only expectation my parents had was just to not be a bum... a jobless leech. i think i've succeeded lol

PeachyPie93 · Answer

Neither of my parents really cared what I did. My mom wanted me to go to college and my dad just wanted me to get a job..

CupcakeTheDestroyer · Answer

My parents just wanted me to go to college. Aside from that, they didn’t care what my degree was in or what job I got

exitseven · Answer

My father just wanted me to be rich. Just made enough money to support my family and lead a decent life.

NathanDavis · Answer

to be myself... and to be happy and, I mostly do that...

Psyduck98 · Answer

I think my parents thought I would be banker but never wanted me to be anything. So I got a degree in graphic design and now I'm nothing. I don't know what to do wish I was told to fianace or business and then do art on the side.

Thecubs22 · Answer

Get married to the right woman, and have kids. Of course that never happened. Lol

bowenw · Answer

They wanted me to be a medical doctor.

rapfan107 · Answer

Parents wanted a doctor pr lawyer but went to business instead

Tonita026 · Answer

Stay off drugs

What did your parents wanted/expected you to do and what did you end up doing?

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