FFS - how do I deal with this one

[EternalOptimist]

My lad is eighteen, and after going through all the usual teenage problems and not doing very well at school, he has now settled down as a labourer working for my son in law.
He is learning plastering, bricky-ing, a bit of plumbing, sort of everything to do with the building game.

Now my know-it-all brother has been putting it around that I am a bad dad and I should be employing him in my company, training him up to do what I do, and getting him into the big bucks.

I dont want to cause a family bust up, but it's starting to bug me.

[Board Game Geek]

Sit the lad down with your son-in-law and explain the pro's and con's, or more likely the con's of just working in the IT sector.

Then explain the pro's of working in the building game, learning lots of transferable and useful skills, like plumbing, bricklaying, electrics, etc.

Then ask the lad in front of both of you which sounds the more appealing and useful.

Your son-in-law will then have to abide by your lad's decision and hopefully get off your case.

[EternalOptimist]

Sit the lad down with your son-in-law and explain the pro's and con's, or more likely the con's of just working in the IT sector.

Then explain the pro's of working in the building game, learning lots of transferable and useful skills, like plumbing, bricklaying, electrics, etc.

Then ask the lad in front of both of you which sounds the more appealing and useful.

Your son-in-law will then have to abide by your lad's decision and hopefully get off your case.

no, no
the son in law is the good guy.

it's my brother who is acting the anus, sticking his nose in

[DS23]

what if he's right though?

[FiveTimes]

My lad is eighteen, and after going through all the usual teenage problems and not doing very well at school, he has now settled down as a labourer working for my son in law.
He is learning plastering, bricky-ing, a bit of plumbing, sort of everything to do with the building game.

Now my know-it-all brother has been putting it around that I am a bad dad and I should be employing him in my company, training him up to do what I do, and getting him into the big bucks.

I dont want to cause a family bust up, but it's starting to bug me.

Have a word with brother and say that your son might not cut it in the "hard" world of IT.
There is no need to mention any of this to your son, just the in-law.

I mean who wants to sit in front of a computer earning good bucks, drinking coffee, posting on forums when you could be on site in the freezing cold knee high in mud drinking coffee from a flask

[EternalOptimist]

what if he's right though?

[Pondlife]

My lad is eighteen, and after going through all the usual teenage problems and not doing very well at school, he has now settled down as a labourer working for my son in law.
He is learning plastering, bricky-ing, a bit of plumbing, sort of everything to do with the building game.

Now my know-it-all brother has been putting it around that I am a bad dad and I should be employing him in my company, training him up to do what I do, and getting him into the big bucks.

I dont want to cause a family bust up, but it's starting to bug me.

If it's what the lad wants to do, tell your brother to wind his neck in.

You have asked the boy though?

[Lockhouse]

A smart builder will always make more dosh than a smart contractor.

That's all you need to say.

[EternalOptimist]

If it's what the lad wants to do, tell your brother to wind his neck in.

You have asked the boy though?

of course, but he has the sense of direction of all lads at that age. One minute he wants to be an ace plasterer, next minute he wants to doss around all day with his mates.

[Pondlife]

of course, but he has the sense of direction of all lads at that age. One minute he wants to be an ace plasterer, next minute he wants to doss around all day with his mates.

Sure, but that isn't the choice on offer is it.

Have you explained to him what you actually do or what other, maybe IT related, options there are?