I’m a single mom to a 13 year old teen and we live in a bad area. I work two jobs to pay the bills. I’m currently a barista and at night I’m a dancer/stripper at a nightclub. I haven’t really told him about my night job yet, since I’ve just played it off as being a waitress. I feel like he’s gotten kind of mature now, but I also am kind of scared he might judge me or it might affect our relationship.
How would telling him benefit either of you? As a random stranger in the internet, you don’t need to be the reason he lost his innocent view of the world.
If he starts asking direct questions, give age appropriate answers but I don’t see a reason to tell him unprompted
I think I basically agree with this; but with one caveat. If/when he finds out it should be from you.
Maybe just letting him know the name of the place you work would allow him to figure it out on his own as he gets older. Kinda depends on the relative location and how notorious (or not) the place is in your area.
Do you mind me asking if you’re a parent or caregiver and if so what age you interact with?
I think your take is pretty moderate and reasonable, but as a dad to a five year old I feel that trying to preserve a child’s “innocence” feels misaligned with trying to preserve lifelong hope and faith in goodness. I feel like preservation of innocence implies growing up is an inevitable process of disillusionment. Does that make sense?