<p>Interesting piece on the impact of the “rat race” on our children. Of course, we all know stress is corrosive.
Also interesting that many of us willingly participate but then question whether or not we want or children to follow suit.<br>
[Inside</a> Out: Parents’ stress harms children | Philadelphia Inquirer | 06/23/2008](<a href=“http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/dan_gottlieb/20080623_Inside_Out__Parents__stress_harms_children.html]Inside”>http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/dan_gottlieb/20080623_Inside_Out__Parents__stress_harms_children.html)</p>
<p>But when I ask if, 20 years in the future, they would like their children to be living the lives they have now, an uncomfortable silence fills the room</p>
<p>My parents didn’t provide sports lessons or even come to my competitions, they didn’t see that I had appropriate classes in school or even graduate and they were still stressed enough that my father died at 43.</p>
<p>I believe that I have given my own kids, tools through the activities and experiences that I have facilitated for them, to help them have broader opportunities than I did.
They have made better choices, and are achieving much more while still young than either I or their father did when we were that age.
So no, they won’t be living identical lives to their parents, they haven’t yet anyway. :)</p>
<p>I haven’t yet read the article but will respond to the citation above. </p>
<p>I would be very happy if my children are someday living the lives my H and I have right now. Very early in our marriage we decided that we would shoot for a sane and balanced lifestyle even if that meant forgoing certain types of careers or positions, bucking popular culture, not keeping up with the Joneses and not having a fat bank account or enough money saved for retirement (whatever ‘enough’ means). We are happy, challenged in our work, healthy, live in a nice community and are looking forward to even better rewards in the future. I hope for my two kids the same level of satisfaction. (This is not to say that life is perfect, we are never stressed out, we don’t get tired of “the treadmill,” etc… just that overall life is good!)</p>
<p>Now I’ll go read the article. :)</p>