One of the core dilemmas of raising the next generation: 1. We base much of our own sense of self-worth on difficulties we have overcome and our ability to tak

One of the core dilemmas of raising the next generation: 1. We base much of our own sense of self-worth on difficulties we have overcome and our ability to take care of others. 2. We fairly extend that same metric to others and judge others by the difficulties they've overcome and what they do for others. 3. Therefore, the better we are at living up to our own values and improving the lives of the next generation, the less we respect them for it. If kids had it as hard as us, it would indicate a failure on our part to provide for them. If they don't have it as hard us, we see them as soft. (The current generation has tackled this dilemma both by destroying the climate and functioning economic and institutional systems they had the luxury of growing up under thus making it worse for the next generation, and still calling them weak for, unsurprisingly, wanting to tune out of the horror show that is the world by staring at their phone.)