She Dreamed of Changing Lives as a Teacher, But New Information Forced Her to Reevaluate Everything.

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Original Poster (OP) finds himself at odds with his family after offering a financial reality check to his youngest daughter, contemplating a teaching career. While his intentions stem from a place of concern for her accustomed lavish lifestyle, it results in emotional upheaval and accusations flying. When an unexpected crisis unfolds, priorities shift, leaving the family’s bond hanging in the balance.

A Privileged Start

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OP and his wife are in lucrative medical fields. She is an anesthesiologist, and he is an interventional cardiologist. Their three daughters grow up in luxury, unaware of living on lesser incomes.

The Daughters’ Interests

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The oldest two, aged 25 and 21, show interest in medicine and are actively seeking degrees in the field. The youngest daughter’s interest lies in teaching, influenced by her aunt. Currently, she is looking at colleges and is at a pivotal point in her decision-making process.

An Aunt’s Influence

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The sister-in-law (SIL), a high school science teacher, becomes a mentor for the youngest daughter. They bond over talks of a career in education. The daughter’s passion grows as she learns more about teaching.

The Lifestyle Gap

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OP notices that his daughter may be unaware of an average teacher’s lifestyle. His SIL lives comfortably and is married to a successful lawyer. The youngest daughter hasn’t seen a teacher’s life without such supplemental income.

Costly Hobbies

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The youngest daughter enjoys skiing, horseback riding, and designer clothing. OP worries if a teacher’s salary can support her expensive tastes. He wonders if she’s considered the financial side of her passion.

A Candid Conversation

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OP decides to sit his daughter down for a financial reality check and a stark breakdown of their family’s earnings and expenses. He even shows how choices could be different under a tighter budget.

The Reality Check

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After the discussion, the youngest daughter wavers in her decision. Teaching no longer seems as appealing when faced with potential financial struggles. The SIL is infuriated when she learns about the talk, accusing OP of crushing the youngest daughter’s dreams.

OP’s Intentions

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OP clarifies his motivations: he respects teaching as a profession. He doesn’t want to push his daughter into medicine if she’s not passionate about it. His main concern is her understanding of the financial ramifications of her choice.

The Crisis

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The youngest daughter unexpectedly faces a medical emergency and is hospitalized. While in recovery, the youngest daughter gets insights from medical professionals around her. Some share their passion for medicine, while others express burnout and regret.

Teacher’s Outreach

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Upon hearing about her hospitalization, the SIL’s friend, a retired teacher, visits the youngest daughter. She shares her fulfilling experiences as an educator, emphasizing the intangible rewards over the tangible ones. She plants a seed of reconsideration in the daughter’s mind.

Siblings Weigh In

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The oldest two daughters share their journeys into medicine. They discuss both the rewards and challenges of their chosen field. They emphasize the importance of passion and commitment over financial gains.

Reflection and Realization

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The youngest daughter takes time to reflect on her options. She considers her love for teaching, her lavish hobbies, and her recent health scare. It seems an impossible task to determine your life’s career trajectory at the young age of 17.

The Decision

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After much contemplation, the youngest decides on the middle ground of becoming a nursing educator. Combining her interests in medicine and teaching, she believes she’s found her calling, inspired by the events around her.

Was The Father’s Behavior Appropriate?

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OP posts his story online for feedback and perspective from the internet community. The readers in the forum had a lot of mixed views on the matter.

Forum Responds

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One reader said, “You’re right. Your family is very privileged in the financial realm, and going over that with your daughter so that she can make the most well-informed choices for herself going forward is being a responsible parent.”

Another Commenter Thinks

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Another responder wrote, “You’re preparing her for the reality that she will face after college. You are teaching her budgeting.”

A Third View on The Story

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A different person stated, “You’re doing a good job by going over budgeting and finance stuff with your daughter and showing her the realities of a $40,000 a year job as contrasted with a $400,000 job.”

A Final Perspective on the Matter

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Another reader commented, “If you explained the reality to her as you stated it, then I see nothing wrong. There is nothing wrong with talking about finances, especially when she is about to commit to a substantial time/money investment into her future education in that direction.”