I'm a middle class Aussie mum and I refuse to let my 15-year-old teen son have a job - but everyone thinks I'm in the wrong Queensland mum Esther refuses to let her teenager get a job She doesn't want him to work for his whole life READ MORE: Parenting coach reveals what could ruin your relationship forever By Shania Obrien For Daily Mail Australia Published: 03:48, 17 August 2023 | Updated: 04:01, 17 August 2023 e-mail View comments A mum has sparked a heated debate after revealing why she 'refuses' to let her teenage son get a job. Esther, from Queensland , shared that her family was 'comfortably middle class' and they didn't need the additional support from their kid's income to survive. So when her 15-year-old son asked her if he could apply for a job, she was shocked. 'My son is at the age where everyone's getting jobs - all his friends have one,' she shared. 'But I didn't want him to start working yet. He's going to have a job his entire life - why start now?' Esther was firm in her opinion and wanted him to enjoy being a child and not worry about bosses, customers, or payslips. She shared her opinion in a now-viral video. 'I told him to watch his friends' lives and see what happens,' she said, referring to the stress and exhaustion that is sure to come with working. 'If he wants to get work experience, he needs to go and find something he really wants to do and ask if he can follow someone around to learn.' Esther added: 'I can fund his existence. He's not getting everything handed to him on a platter, but it's insane to tell a small child who is 15 that they should go out in the world and get a job as if they're not going to experience that their whole life.' The mum also joked that her son was probably going to 'retire when he's 100' because of the increasing life expectancy. 'We don't even get to die young anymore, we live for a million years these days,' she said. 'He's not going to retire until he's like 100, he's not starting at 15.' READ MORE: I'm a parenting coach - this is why smacking your children could ruin your relationship forever Advertisement Many slammed her for being short-sighted, and shared why they thought it was beneficial for teenagers to have jobs. 'Jobs build confidence, accountability, communication skills, and kinship with peers. Teaches you to show up but also advocate for yourself,' a man said. 'Please let him get a job, at least in the holidays. I never had a job during school, I'm 20 now and no one will hire me because I have no experience,' another wrote. 'I'm 29 next year and I carry the things I learned at my KFC job at 15 with me to this day - personally and professionally,' a woman revealed. 'Adversely, a strong work ethic could see him retire at 40. It's all about perspective,' a man said. Esther, from Queensland, shared that her family was 'comfortably middle class' and they didn't need the additional support from their kid's income to survive While others thanked her for looking out for her son and supporting him. 'Unpopular opinion but my parents did this and I'm grateful they let me be a kid,' a woman wrote. 'Also - never had an issue landing a job in adulthood.' Another added, 'Yes, me too! I don't know how I would have even had time between activities, school work and social life.' 'I feel the same way regarding my kids. If they want to help out once in a while, cool, but live your age!' a mum shared. Share or comment on this article: I'm a middle class Aussie mum and I refuse to let my 15-year-old teen son have a job - but everyone thinks I'm in the wrong e-mail Add comment Comments 0 Share what you think No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. Add your comment Enter your comment By posting your comment you agree to our house rules . Submit Comment Clear Close Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. No Yes Close Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy .