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Q: My 15-year-old son seems to be thinking seriously about career choices and wondering what to do with his life as an adult. What can I do now to help him settle on a path and make wise plans for the future?

Jim: I'd suggest starting by exposing him to as many different occupations as possible. Give him a taste of the wide variety of career choices available. Help him discover his God-given talents, interests, abilities and strengths. If he's intrigued by medicine, set up a time for him to talk with your physician about the demands and rewards of this profession. If he's mechanically inclined, arrange to have him spend time hanging around the local garage. You can take the same approach with almost any type of career your son might potentially find interesting.

Throughout this process, make a conscious effort to avoid projecting your personal expectations on your child. If you're an accountant but your son has difficulty with math, don't push him into a career that would make him miserable. If you're an attorney but he wants to be an artist, don't try to make him force his "square peg" temperament into the "round hole" of a legal career.

As your son starts to gain a clear sense of interest and direction, help him access the guidance and training he needs to effectively pursue his career objective. School guidance counselors should be able to offer insights. Career-testing services can help your son determine options that best fit his personality, temperament and interests. Young people who are somewhat aimless may find these test results useful in identifying a goal. Others -- who are blessed with many different interests -- might benefit from tests that help them focus on their areas of greatest strength. This can help spare them from changing majors multiple times during college (which can prove both expensive and time-consuming).

Q: I've been living with my boyfriend for a couple of years and we have a baby together. But I recently caught him sexting a "friend" of mine. When I confronted him, he blamed me and walked out on me and our son. I feel so hurt, betrayed and alone. What should I do?

Dr. Greg Smalley, Vice President, Marriage & Family Formation: Your boyfriend's actions clearly suggest he's ill-equipped and uninterested in being a husband or a dad. If that's his choice, let him walk away. He's responsible for his own bad behavior. This is the time to stand up for yourself and your baby.

However -- note that ending the relationship with your boyfriend should NOT release him from his financial obligations as a parent. I suggest that you work to legally secure that support.

Meanwhile, start reaching out for help wherever you can find it -- beginning with your own family if possible. Look into community resources and seek out a good church.

Once you've addressed your immediate physical needs and those of your baby, start working on the spiritual and psychological aspects of your situation. Be honest with yourself in assessing if any negative personal issues in your past may have led you to become involved with someone like this boyfriend in the first place. Deal with those issues now before initiating any new relationships with men. Our staff counselors can help; call 855-771-HELP (4357) for a free consultation.

One last thought: Although living together before marriage might seem appealing, research shows that couples who do are generally less satisfied, more likely to divorce if they do marry and frequently go through breakups like yours. I wish you the best going forward -- and we have lots of resources for your future relationships at FocusOnTheFamily.com.

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Jim Daly is a husband and father, an author, and president of Focus on the Family and host of the Focus on the Family radio program. Catch up with him at jimdalyblog.focusonthefamily.com or at Facebook.com/JimDalyFocus.

Copyright 2025 Focus On The Family. (This feature may not by reproduced or distributed electronically, in print or otherwise without written permission of Focus on the Family.)

COPYRIGHT 2025 Andrews McMeel Syndication. This feature may not be reproduced or distributed electronically, in print or otherwise without the written permission of Andrews McMeel Syndication.