Parents: Better to push your child to be the big fish, or let them strive in mediocrity?

[slackerinabox]

Yeah no worries or anything - the job market is just going to go to total shit for automation. But who cares! Flip burgers while you can! Yay!

That is the exact problem - the world isn't fun, it isn't fair, and humans are naturally competitive. If you live with that type of mentality, it always ends up with young life spilling over into adulthood. To each their own, I guess I just hold my kids to higher standards than a lifetime career of burger flipping and playing xbox all day.

Dude, you sound like my dad. and I don't believe him to be wrong - I guess balance is the answer? I never saw him growing up, and all of his kids resent him (and none accomplished much). I look at the "successful" ones and see a lot of 60 hour weeks and broken marriages (though really hate the ones to seem to have the financial and the personal figured out.. bastards..).. It's complicated.

 

[slackerinabox]

Why would it matter if your peers have a 3000 sq house? Everyone can buy a 3000 sq house.

Meh, it's hard to entertain here so we don't.. Not that I like entertaining. Keeping up with the Joneses I suppose?

 

[sandorski]

Expose them to a number of things. Museums, different types of Art performances, various sports. Perhaps enroll them in clubs/camps related to what interests them.