They do this by modeling appropriate career behaviors, providing enriching experiences, and supporting the development of desirable work-related attitudes. In another approach, rather than steering their children in a predetermined direction, parents try to prepare their children to be autonomous and successful in shaping their own lives. Development is seen as a process of relating, with parents and children interacting to share and create mutual understanding. In this way, youth can get a sense of gateways or channels to an ever-widening range of experiences, as opposed to one narrow track. This way of parenting is demanding, and takes time to learn.
Many parents face increased pressure in their own work life.
They may have to work longer hours. They may be coping with work environments that are not supportive of family needs, or they may have to adapt to loss of worker benefits or to a decrease in job security. Parents' lives may be more complex and demanding than ever before. At the same time, a great deal of social and personal pressure is placed on parents to do well for their children. Parents are expected to prepare their children for the lifelong process of acquiring skills, knowledge, and values in order to be successful in their adult life, to hold jobs and achieve self-sufficiency.