It is useful to understand whether it was said to hurt, and not necessarily because the son calmly and rationally weighed his options and decided that studying/working hard for potentially minimal payoff wasn't worth his effort.

It's important to establish in subsequent discussions that the son's logic isn't particularly sound. Advanced education provides a lot of opportunities. None of it is a guarantee of success, but it opens more doors and pays higher wages. (And he'll always need to work hard whether this is school, university, or a job. It's a different sort of hard work if you don't have a degree... and usually doesn't pay nearly as well.) Also, basic education is important to have even if you're a manual laborer. Math and reading are critical skills for everyday life.

But also, lead by example. Being jobless isn't the end of everything. The father has a college degree and has a long history of hard work. I know from experience that it's difficult, both emotionally and logistically, to find a new job. However, this is the time to lead by example: do that hard work, demonstrating to the son that a setback is not a reason to give up.

It is unlikely the son concluded this after a calm and rational examination of his options, but rather was reacting in the heat of the moment.

Establish in subsequent discussions that the son's logic isn't particularly sound. Advanced education provides a lot of opportunities. It does not guarantee permanent success (as the father has found), but it opens more doors and pays higher wages. (And the son will always need to work hard, whether in school, towards a degree, or in a job. It's a different sort of hard work if you don't have a degree... and usually doesn't pay nearly as well.) Also, basic education is important even for you're a manual laborer. Math and reading are critical skills for everyday life.

But also, lead by example. Being jobless isn't the end of everything. The father has a college degree and has a long history of hard work. I know from experience that it's difficult, both emotionally and logistically, to find a new job. However, this is the time to lead by example: do that hard work, demonstrating to the son that a setback is not a reason to give up.

It is useful to understand that it was said to hurt, not necessarily because the son calmly and rationally weighed his options and decided that a good living wasn't worth his effort.

It's important to establish in subsequent discussions that the son's logic isn't particularly sound. Advanced education provides a lot of opportunities. None of it is a guarantee of success, but it opens more doors and pays higher wages. (And he'll always need to work hard whether this is school, university, or a job. It's a different sort of hard work if you don't have a degree... and usually doesn't pay nearly as well.) Also, basic education is important to have even if you're a manual laborer. Math and reading are critical skills for everyday life.

But also, lead by example. Being jobless isn't the end of everything. The father has a college degree and has a long history of hard work. I know from experience that it's difficult, both emotionally and logistically, to find a new job. However, this is the time to lead by example: do that hard work, demonstrating to the son that a setback is not a reason to give up.

It is useful to understand whether it was said to hurt, and not necessarily because the son calmly and rationally weighed his options and decided that studying/working hard for potentially minimal payoff wasn't worth his effort.

It's important to establish in subsequent discussions that the son's logic isn't particularly sound. Advanced education provides a lot of opportunities. None of it is a guarantee of success, but it opens more doors and pays higher wages. (And he'll always need to work hard whether this is school, university, or a job. It's a different sort of hard work if you don't have a degree... and usually doesn't pay nearly as well.) Also, basic education is important to have even if you're a manual laborer. Math and reading are critical skills for everyday life.

But also, lead by example. Being jobless isn't the end of everything. The father has a college degree and has a long history of hard work. I know from experience that it's difficult, both emotionally and logistically, to find a new job. However, this is the time to lead by example: do that hard work, demonstrating to the son that a setback is not a reason to give up.