I did not impose. Rather they chose their professions according to their interests.

I will encourage them and also provide tips to be more than me

I did not impose. Rather they chose their professions according to their interests.

Yes, I have encouraged them to become academics. They have my support whenever the need. As @Krishnan has said, I have supplied them with advices and tips how to become good member of Academia. One of them is here at RG.

Nevena Jacic

Dear Emeka,

This is interesting! When we want to know the exact honest measure of things, we should think of our children.

I do hope my children will keep their amazing young perspective of maturing high intelligence and better practical fulfillments than my own qualities. Theirs is the World.

I love every working task I perform, including my medical practise, my scientific teaching and researching works.

I should love to get the guarantee that my huge library ends in good hands, with its complete collections.

Nevertheless, because I trust my children's intelligence and capability, I hope they will be better performers than me, and I pray that they will manage to become happier, healthier, richer persons. (If not only better honest, warm hearted people, who work for a better world in their own turn).

I pray.

Dear Dr. Emeka,

I will first need to identify their interests, then motivate and guide them. While anyone with interests in making a career out of academics or research will also get my full support. Thanks.

Kind regards.

Encouraging children to build their career as academics or researchers is very interesting, but the decision should depend on their desire and interest.

I did not impose, and encouraging my children to well choose their future specialty.

Regards, Emad

yes I like it, because they will be not involved in any corruption, if they desire. Research and teaching has minimum corruption

Many thanks Professors Sabhash and Krishnan for you diverse opinions. It is interesting to note that while some researchers will encourage their wards, others will leave it entirely for them to decide.

Dear Prof Maria, thank you for your honest comment. In fact, I wonder what will happen to my private library if none of my children ends up as a researcher.

Thanks to Professor Ljubomir and Mahfuz for your interesting answers.

Prof Emad, thanks for not imposing on your children their career.

No, I have never encouraged one of my children (3) to become an academic researcher. Everbody has to find his own way in life and to built up his/her own professional learning. I only encourage to learning and earning; academia is about archiving and standard knowlegde, not everybody is fit for such an area, even if both parents are great academics. However, it is always easier to enter a profession, if one of your parents or close relatives is already in it; call it the 'inheritance bias'.

No, I would like to see my children into Agriculture Field.

Many thanks Prof Stephen for your candid opinion. I like the "inheritance bias" aspect of your comment.

Many thanks to Dr Nishad. Your choice is great!

This is a good question.

I myself, do not have to encourage them, surprisingly they already started to copy me!

And I am not sure whether to leave them that way or further encourage them to follow my steps, however keeping them learning and experiencing life is my priority at this level.

Thanks Prof Ahmad Hassanat for sharing your experience with us. It is good to know that your children are already following your career path. Congratulations!

Thanks Prof Mutasem for your brilliant comments. Our children need our support and encouragement.

Yes I am trying to set a base for my children in this field hopefully if GOD(ALLAH) blessed them they will go much ahead then me.

Children play and work according to their own interests. As a Latin and Literature teacher I encouraged my only son to read a lot and to visit science museum. He always preferred tv shows for science and science documentary than readind books. He became a geophysical engineer and he used to say me that I encouraged him to be a scientist. In fact he is now doing sientific teaching and researching at a universiy. I am vey happy because he is doing what he wants to.

I agree with Dr. Luisa Isabel Rodríguez-Bello

Many thanks Professors Ashique Ali and Luisa Isabel Rodríguez-Bello for your very interesting answers.

In my society, it is popular to see parents who influence their children's career choice. Doctors, lawyers and engineers want their children to become like them. Although this is gradually changing in contemporary time, it seems that it is not the same elsewhere.

Many thanks Dr Chukwuebuka Egbuna for your very interesting answer. Hope you are doing well.

Yes I am and hope you are too?

Kind regards.

Research and academic pursuit of life is a refreshing and well fulfilling career which I love to recommend to my children to experience the gift and miracles of research and academic work.

Many thanks Dr Dickson for your opinion.

Just to have a researcher in the family is an encouragement in itself. They more or less know what it is about, so they will follow if they like it.

Hello,

Truly, parental concern for children is an inherent factor so much so most parents aim to guide their children in specific directions. However, as the saying goes, " a man's meat may be another man's poison". I believe that we should try to build a bridge for our children to pass ; however, our children should have the right to destroy our bridge and build one of their own. On this basis, I would guide my children towards the path of becoming a researcher; however, it is up to them to decide whether they want to go ahead with it or not.

Best regar4ds,

R. Biria

Yes sure, why not . They will be lucky no doubt if they become academic persons.

Liqaa

Dear Prof Waldemar, thanks for your yes answer. I will like at least one of my children to become a researcher, but it is up to them to decide whether or not they want to.

Many thanks Professors Barbara and Liqaa for your answers.

Thanks Prof Reza for your insightful answer. I like the bridge analysis in your answer. Indeed, it goes with the saying, that you can take a horse to the river, but you can't force it to drink water.

Dear Colleagues,

This is a very interesting question, which I can only answer by looking back. Three of my cousins had outstanding academic careers, and this certainly stimulated me. Our own family (wife, 2 children) is working in healthcare now, we can only be grateful that they were stimulated by our professions. Some of our nephews are bright students, if they would choose academic careers, I should not disencourage them , but explain them pros en cons. 

Children do not necessarily become like parents. Every human being has his own aspirations and aspirations for life. Leaves for time!

Regards,

Dear Prof van Zwleten many thanks for taking us back via memory lane. Your answer is quite insightful. I will be glad if people in my family decide to do what I am doing.

I agree with Dr. Barbara Sawicka

Yes I do, I always encourage them ( morally and financially), and I think my efforts succeeded with some of them as my best representatives in the Society. Regards

It is a great care (a dream) of mine not to disturb my children in finding their own best way. Not every one is lucky enough to find it. I'm lucky, I found it in my 40-ties (even if I new, that I like to be an engineer when I was 8 :-)).

I tell them why I so happy at the University, but I show them as well, that I has not copied my parents.

There is one Polish comedy with so wise sentence: First, you should realize what do you like doing. And simply do it. You can show your human characteritics in every profession.

Many thanks Prof Hubert for sharing our experience with us.

Thanks Dr Nabeel for your answer. It is good to hear that you encourage your children to follow your footsteps.

Someone sent this to my inbox, so I am adding it here:

''Not particularly, no! My view is that they should follow their own dreams, interests and aspirations. However, if they require guidance from me, I am willing to give it''.

Every individual becomes happy and feels pleased the moment he/she lives his/her dream, and this happiness and pleasure gets doubled the moment child lives the dream of his/her parents.................

If any of my children finds his/her interest in teaching/research, I will encourage him/her. In general, I advice/support them to follow their dreams.

Many thanks Dr Ramesh and Dr Anthony for your answers.

Another person sent this to my inbox, so I am adding it here:

It is easier to do it with...grandchildren. Usual reaction of children of my own is to go in different area as the parents are. My grandfather was the engineer, my father was the lawyer. I am oceanographer, my son and the daughter the businessmen...

I don't think so, unless overall conditions change in Greece.

There is no meritocracy in academics, so I would not give such an advice.

Dear @Emeka, there were some fine related research questions about the issue. Fine responses and resources!

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Will_you_want_your_children_take_up_teaching_as_a_profession_in_the_future

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Would_you_let_your_kids_be_academics

Yes!

Dear Prof Ljubomir Jacić,

Many thanks for pointing me to this.

I would definitely encourage my children to become researcher/academician. The reason is that there are a number of advantages in research/academics. Based on those reasons I'd encourage children for research/academics.

Reason 1: Research is inventing Future and Investing in Future. Only in a research lab can you prototype high-risk ideas that are five, ten, or even twenty years ahead of the state-of-the-art in industry. In industry, the main priorities of work for employees are to deliver projects within a short time like a coming week, month, or year. Researchers don’t just regurgitate information, they create it.

Reason 2: Teaching is more satisfying than working for Industry. Working in Academics offers the opportunity to share your ideas with students by designing your courses and developing your own teaching style. Mentoring and influencing young people can be a very satisfying and fulfilling experience as you get instant feedback from your students.

Reason 3: Working in research/academics is more rewarding and respectful.

The privileges from receiving tenure include status, security and the academic freedom to take on long-term projects, without needing to produce results in the short-term.

Reason 4: Tenure and Stability. The stability in academics enables you to take risks on new areas of research with peace of mind.

Dear Prof Umer, I am grateful for your detailed answer. Indeed, working in academia is rewarding. Once again, thank you.

“We are what we repeatedly do," said Aristotle. "Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit." It's true, whether we're talking about ourselves, our children but we teach them social skills & demonstrate high educational expectations and show them work ethic--and achievement.

Many thanks Dr Grover for your answer.

I encourage them to be more than me. Nevertheless, I make sure to know the aptitudes of each of them and I direct them in a field (not necessarily research) taking into account their capacities.

Peoples' capabilities are no longer inherited from their parents. It was long, long ago when the son of a smith (but, interestingly, not his daughter) became a smith too. Today we can observe this phenomenon in families of doctors, lawyers or businessmen, but not among actors, poets and other artists. I can recall only one family of scientists, namely Bernoulli family, with ~50 members being more or less involved in various sciences. Curie family is another notable exception. It is a usual feature of children to be in opposition to views of their parents They know better what is (will be) good for them. Therefore explicit encouragement will almost surely not work. If you want your children to follow your path, then you have to act more subtly, without words (and with no warranty of the desirable results ...)

Many thanks Professors Carine and Marek for your insightful contributions.  

Many thanks Dr Artur!

What will happen to your personal library and other research facilities when you retire, if nobody takes up research or teaching among your children? Have you ever thought about this?

Why not ?

Many thanks Dr Shibabrata for your answer.

Dear @Emeka, there are many related answers under this specific research question by dear @Roland.

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Why_did_you_followed_a_career_in_research_education?view=58e8bfa8ed99e1b18c428a58

Many thanks Prof Ljubomir. The link is helpful.

I am in favour of my child choosing his own vocation as per his liking and choice. But since childhood when I used to bring story books for him till today (he is in XI class) he is a voracious reader. His love for books and reading is going to bring him close to academics.

Since childhood he has a sense of reasoning out whenever he takes a decision taking considering different perspectives - a sign of being inquisitive - an important ingredient for being a researcher.

Dear Prof Vibha, thanks for your answer. Because you child likes to read (like his mother), it is likely to be what someone called "inheritance bias". Please keep encouraging him. I wish him well.

Will you ever encourage your children to become academics/researchers like you?

I have 2 teenager children in which it is premature yet for me to encourage them to become academics / researchers. I would like to understand deeper their interests / passions as well as their competency before recommending any course or even profession for them to pursue.

My personal experience learning from others is - forced / induced influence on children to study certain courses / become certain professionals might develop into negative outcome if they don't have the passion nor competency. Also as parents, we can't expect our children to fulfill our dreamed course / job or recommend something to them that we think it is good for their future without comprehensive understanding from various angles.

NO, I will not . Only if their choice will be absolutely outlandish - I will try to interfere.

BUT the life in Russia - has already changed so much that many priorities of "my time" - became outdated (in sense of creating a well-being atmosphere of life). Many youngsters consider the University Education as an unnecessary step and prefer just after finishing the high school - to start their own business.

In "my time" (say, 40 years ago) - it was popular to say: "The Great American Dream is to make a million before 40 y.o. - and then to choose how to continue their life" I guess for many youngsters in Russia - this became the main goal/Slogan.

All the above - from time to time - makes me think that my own profession-choices were wrong; I never thought about money; I always was (and still am) excited by my Research and thrilled to obtain some new results.

Many thanks Prof Han Ping Fung for your answer. It is good to allow thinner drive or passion to lead them while we parents encourage them.

Thanks very much Prof Leonid for your insightful and detailed answer. Indeed, I am sure that it is the same in Nigeria, where money is the focus of many young people.

I am explaining the opportunities in different fields but decision is depend on their interests. I won't impose my views or ideas on them, they have to judge and understand the realities.

Thanks Prof Geddada for your comment. It is great to have parents like you, who are available to explain things to their children. It will help them to make the right choice.

Children do not necessarily have to do the same job as parents. For me, I will encourage my children to choose the field they want and urge them to excel in it

Thanks dear Dr Ali Kadhum for your honest comment.

My way is just let my children do what they want or like to do . I never force them follow what I am doing , but , I told them what will be the future market looks like, what are the type of profession are more demanding .

The last things was, all of them must complete their first degree. based on their strength ,and capacity .

Dear Dr Yew Meng Chin, thank you for your insightful answer.

They have their own opinion based on the life they had, so it is much difficult to impose it.

Thanks Dr Lin! Of course, the case here is not imposing your career choice on your children, but suggesting or encouraging them to make the right choice.

Dr Rahis sent this to my inbox, so I am adding it here:

Yes, I will persuade them for research leaving them open to choose their career as per prevailing situations and demands of skill in our country. Education is effective only if it satisfies individual, cultural, industrial and social needs of a country. Research in a chosen field always contribute to maximum extent thus I would like to encourage the same.

Yes for me specially in the prospective of being an observer because researcher means an observer of his surrounding for me. So any body should be an observer like our traditional people who know what is going on in their surrounding very well and react as they can to live in harmony with the environment as possible. Synthesizing your observation by any means is another issue for me but at least we have to observe as much we can as possible as a human being because we are made in such a way unless otherwise even we can not walk properly and throw ourselves into a cliff.

After proper observation we can think further. That is all.

Thank you for this nice question.

Many thanks Prof Getamesay for your unique answer.

Thsnks mr Emeka

Your question has estimulantes Manu answers all over the world

Congrats

Honestly, I am not sure

Dear Prof Haitham, why not? You didn't state your reasons. Anyway, thank you for your honesty.

Maybe one of my question may be related to this one?

There are many examples of illegal employment of children of professors. It is an ethical issue. It is about nepotism. Rectors of the University of Novi Pazar, in Serbia, hired several members of their closest family, although there were better candidates for the academic places. Do you have experience with such phenomena?

Whether children of university professors have priority in employment?

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Do_you_have_experience_with_caste_employment_at_Universities_in_spite_of_the_law

Dear Emeka,

My be because I think being a University Professor is a stressful job.

Regards,

Dear Prof Ljubomir, the situation is worse in my country. Not only are Professors', VC's, etc. children employed, they also employ people from their ethnic groups, towns and villages and impose them on the Departments.

Yes

Many thanks Dr Olutosin. Please do you have any reason for saying yes?

Not sure really.

Dear Gehan, do you have a specific reason?

If my son is interested in researching in a particular field, then I would give him all my support and encouragement. If he's interested in something else, then I wouldn't put any pressure on him to pursue an academic vocation. Each person should follow their own passion.

Very interesting discussion so far. In my own opinion, i can only encourage them and not impose any career choice on them.

Thanks Prof Kirk for your comment.

Many thanks to you Dr Oluwaseun for your answer. There is no need to pressure them, though our children deserve to be guided properly, especially in their early years.