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| The author's son learned from her while she was working from home. Courtesy of TerDawn DeBoe |
It all started with boredom — and a curious teenager who had nothing better to do.
My son was 13, on summer break, and like many teens with time on their hands, he was roaming the house declaring how “there’s nothing to do.” I was deep in my home office, working on projects for my digital marketing and branding agency, when he appeared in the doorway for the third time before lunch.
“What are you actually doing in here all day?” he asked, with a mix of genuine curiosity and mild suspicion.
Usually, I might have waved him off so I could get back to work. But this time, something made me pause. “Want to see?” I asked, motioning to the chair beside me.
That small invitation would end up changing the course of his summer — and, as it turns out, his career path.
From Observer to Collaborator
At that moment, I was building a website for a client. He sat beside me as I explained each step — how I chose the layout, matched colors, and crafted the copy. He didn’t just watch; he engaged. His questions were sharp: “Why that font?” “How do you know people will click that button?” “What makes this look good?”
What I thought would be a quick, one-off distraction for him became a daily ritual. Each morning, he’d settle into that same chair, watching and learning. I’d explain my design decisions, and he’d chime in with ideas. “What if the logo was bigger?” he’d suggest. Or, “That color doesn’t match the vibe you’re going for.”
Two weeks in, I decided to give him a real task — a logo design for a client. I taught him the basics of the design software, gave him the project brief, and let him experiment.
The result shocked me. His design was clean, fresh, and perfectly aligned with the client’s brand. When I showed it to the client, they were thrilled. They had no idea it was the work of a 13-year-old.
Starting His Own Client Work
That first success lit a spark. “Can I try finding my own clients?” he asked one afternoon.
I hesitated. He was still a kid, and I knew client work came with deadlines, feedback, and the occasional tough personality. But his persistence won me over. I told him he could start by offering free work to a couple of local businesses to build his portfolio.
Within a week, he had landed two small projects — social media graphics for a beauty brand and a basic website for a local author. His professionalism and genuine interest in understanding what clients wanted stood out immediately. He listened more than he spoke, asked clarifying questions, and turned vague ideas into polished, on-brand visuals.
Word spread quickly in our community. The beauty brand posted about their new website, tagging him. A happy client recommended him to another business owner. Soon, his phone was buzzing with inquiries.
A $5,000 Summer
By the end of that summer, he had completed projects for eight clients, from logo designs to full websites. One of his designs even appeared on a billboard promoting a haircare brand. I’ll never forget watching him take a photo in front of it, smiling like he’d just won an award.
All told, he earned $5,000 in just a few months. But the money, while exciting, wasn’t the real victory.
I saw him gain confidence in ways that had nothing to do with his bank account. He learned how to navigate client calls, balance feedback with his creative instincts, and manage timelines. He experienced the satisfaction of delivering something valuable — and the pride that comes when people respect your work.
From Summer Gig to Career Path
Fast forward to today: he’s 20, in college studying film and marketing, and still running his design business on the side. What began as a summer boredom cure has evolved into a career path he’s genuinely excited about.
He now talks about expanding his services after graduation, even launching a creative agency. And while his skill set has grown, the foundational lessons — listening to clients, translating ideas into visuals, taking ownership — came from that very first summer in my office.
The Lesson for Parents
Looking back, I realize the most valuable career advice I ever gave him didn’t come in the form of a lecture about “following your passion.” It was simply opening the door to my work world and letting him see what I do.
Too often, we keep our professional lives separate from our kids. But letting them watch us problem-solve, create, and collaborate can plant seeds we don’t even know are taking root. The rise of remote work makes it easier than ever to give them that inside look — to see the day-to-day reality of building something, meeting deadlines, and thinking creatively under pressure.
My son didn’t find his path through a guidance counselor or an aptitude test. He found it by pulling up a chair next to my desk and paying attention. And sometimes, that’s all it takes to spark a future.
