I agree that you can be a great parent, with money, and end up with a kid who screws his life up. I also think that a lot of times just because someone "has money" doesn't mean they are a good parent. Lots of parents with money are so interested in making it, that they forget about raising their children.

I was given a ton of freedom in high school, but never smoked, did drugs, or drank. I was never disciplined with physical violence. I was disciplined with the knowledge that my parents, whom I loved and respected very much, would be eternally disappointed in me if I made the wrong choices. I was also raised in a family that was very involved in church, and in being part of their children's lives. We had family dinners at grandma's every weekend. We took family vacations. I went to Sunday school. I knew that people cared, and that people were paying attention.

I think it's pretty sad when we've come to a place when we can talk about teen drug abuse, promiscuity, and underage drunkenness as if it's no big deal.

Makes me wonder if it's even worth having a kid these days, if so many kids, and apparently women on this board, feel like this is the normal way to live. Totally depressing.

And you know, there's nothing wrong with being upper-middle class and expecting more from your kids and for your life. My parents busted their butts to get there, and to give me a childhood that wasn't laced with all of these supposedly "normal" things. I don't know why there always seems to be so much venom in the world for people who work hard to achieve better.

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