Skip to main content

AITA for "Discouraging" My Niece's Dream of Becoming a Pediatrician?

· 3 min read

Once upon a time in a suburban kitchen, I was sipping coffee while my niece (the 16‑year‑old future doc‑in‑the‑making) asked a life‑changing question: “What if I were a doctor again? Could I be a pediatrician like you?”
I, the 39‑year‑old skeptic, calmly replied that I’d probably be a dentist instead, because apparently my wife earns more than I do, and pediatricians don’t get rich.
She left, then called me an idiot for putting her off a “good” career. The moral of the story? My niece might want to heal babies, but I told her to consider the dollar signs.
So, Reddit, am I the asshole?

TL;DR: I warned a 16‑year‑old about money, she got mad, Reddit said I'm not the asshole, and now I’m stuck with a future pediatrician who might be a broke kid.

The Comments (in their most gloriously candid form)​

  1. Comment 1
    “NTA. She is 16 – not 10. She’s at a stage where she needs all the info to make decisions. Sounds like her mom wants to say ‘daughter is a pediatrician’ more than she wants her to make an informed decision.”

  2. Comment 2
    “NTA. I’m not a doc, but I’m a NP in a surgical specialty. I wouldn’t go into medicine, nursing, etc. if I had to do it all over again.
    In fact, when people say they want to be a nurse, I ask them, ‘Have you considered being a dental hygienist?’
    It’s cute that a 16‑year‑old wants to be a pediatrician, but she has no idea what that means or entails.
    She doesn’t realize that some of your child patients will get sick and die, that a lot of the job is managing parents, and that pediatricians make less than other specialties.
    If she’s passionate, let her go to med school and then choose a specialty.”

  3. Comment 3
    “I feel like there’s a weird focus on money in your response.
    Like the reason to become a doctor is a combination of enjoying medical science, human biology, and the want to help people recover from illnesses.
    The focus on money… well, it’ll never be enough and therefore it’s hard to be truly happy. Money is just a bonus that helps pay rent or mortgage.
    Did you discuss with her why she chose that career? To her, the achievements and job satisfaction may outweigh student debt.”

  4. Comment 4
    “NTA. Speaking as a European, higher education is free here. People change fields of study all the time.
    In the US, if I had to pay the huge tuition, I’d want to be 100% certain before taking on that debt and risking an unfulfilling job.”

  5. Comment 5
    “HaHa, we’re on the same page. Managed care is killing the medical field and pediatrics is the hardest hit.
    I was a Pediatric Dentist, retired 14 years ago, and managed care was trying to grab hold but we resisted more than the docs.
    This might be a suggestion for her.”

Now that the comments have been cleaned of usernames and slightly re‑phrased for clarity, we have a solid, funny article ready for your Docusaurus blog. Enjoy the chuckles!