> ...to trade the traditional privileges of childhood... Traditionally children help out with chores, work on the farm, watch the other children, or even get j

> ...to trade the traditional privileges of childhood... Traditionally children help out with chores, work on the farm, watch the other children, or even get jobs to help with the household expenses. > ...kids who have internalized the idea that work is all there is... There is a certain segment of the population that scrapes by and survival is the biggest concern. A certain level of privilege is needed to take principled stands on issues, invest large amounts of time and energy in charitable work, or even just travel and experience the world. That is to say, life as a struggle is actually pretty normal. And it's not new or unique to this time and culture. Maybe it's perverse to choose to struggle as a middle class kid. And maybe it's especially perverse to chose this kind of struggle. But there are many less healthy things for tweens and teens to invest their energy in.