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

A mum has sparked heated debate after revealing why she ‘refuses’ to let her teenage son get a job.

Esther, from Queensland, shared that her family was ‘comfortable middle class’ and did not need the extra support from her child’s income to survive.

So when her 15-year-old son asked if he could apply for a job, she was shocked.

“My son is at the age where everyone gets a job – all his friends have one,” she shared. “But I didn’t want him to start working yet. He’s going to have a job all his life – why start now?

Esther was firm in her opinion and wanted him to enjoy being a kid and not care about bosses, clients, or payslips.

She shared her opinion in a now viral video.

“I told him to look at his friends’ lives and see what happens,” she said, referring to the stress and exhaustion that comes with work.

“If he wants to gain professional experience, he has to find something he really wants to do and ask if he can follow someone to learn.”

Esther added: “I can finance its existence. He doesn’t get everything on a plate, but it’s insane to tell a little 15-year-old kid that he should go out into the world and get a job like he’s not going to live this his whole life.

The mum also joked that her son is likely to ‘retire when he turns 100’ due to rising life expectancies.

“We won’t even die young anymore, we live a million years these days,” she said. “He won’t retire until he’s 100, he won’t start at 15.”

Many criticized her for her myopia and explained why they thought it was beneficial for teenagers to have a job.

“The jobs build trust, responsibility, communication skills and relatedness with peers. Teaches you how to show off but also how to defend yourself,” one man said.

“Please let him find a job, at least during the holidays. I never had a job while in college, I’m 20 now and no one will hire me because I have no experience,” another wrote.

“I turn 29 next year and I carry to this day what I learned in my work at KFC at 15 – personally and professionally,” one woman revealed.

“Conversely, a strong work ethic could see him retire at 40. It’s all about perspective,” one man said.

While others thanked her for watching over her son and supporting him.

“Unpopular opinion but my parents did and I’m grateful they let me be a kid,” one woman wrote. “Plus, I’ve never had a problem getting a job as an adult.”

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 about my kids. If they want to help out once in a while, cool, but live your age! a mom shared.