Dear Aunt Silvia,

I have been a fan of yours for 8 years. Thanks for your advice and help to families and young ones. Our 14-year-old son is in a dilemma. He got a low-paying job in a supermarket, which requires almost a full-time commitment. Facing financial stress, my husband wants him to take up the job, but I insisted that he finish school first before taking any job. I fear that once he starts working in the supermarket, he might stop caring about his school, which is a solid foundation for him to get a better, decent job in the future and take better care of his life later. The difference of opinion has been causing serious quarrels and conflicts between my husband and me. Please, I need your advice.

Yours,

Susan  (Zwedru, Liberia)

Dear Susan,

Thank you for your kind words and for sharing such a heartfelt concern. Your situation is one many families face, especially during times of financial stress.

First, it is important to remember that both you and your husband want the same thing: a better future for your son. Your husband likely sees the supermarket job as immediate financial relief and a way to teach responsibility. You, on the other hand, are focused on long-term stability through education. Neither of you is wrong — you are simply looking at the problem from different angles.

At 14, your son is still very young. Education at this stage is indeed a critical foundation. Completing his schooling will open doors that a low-paying, nearly full-time supermarket job may not. Once a teenager begins earning money and working long hours, it can become difficult to return to the discipline and focus that school requires. Your concern that he might lose interest in his studies is realistic.

However, work itself is not the enemy. In fact, part-time or holiday work can build responsibility, time management skills, and confidence. The problem here is not the job, but the “almost full-time commitment.” Such a heavy workload could interfere with his academic performance and even his physical and emotional well-being.

Perhaps a middle ground would help reduce the conflict between you and your husband. Could your son work limited hours — maybe weekends or school holidays — while keeping his education as the clear priority? If that is not possible with this job, it may be wise to decline it and search for something less demanding.

It is also important that you and your husband discuss this calmly, away from your son. When parents argue strongly over such matters, children can feel pressured or guilty. Try to frame the discussion around one shared question: “What decision gives our son the best long-term future?”

Financial hardship is painful, but a 14-year-old should not be expected to solve adult problems. If education remains the priority now, he will likely have greater opportunities to support himself — and even you — in the future.

Stay united as parents. Your son needs your teamwork more than anything else.

With warm regards,

 Aunt Silvia