Do you think it's important these days to be more successful than your parents?

Question

Do people think they should be more successful than their parents were, have better, more prestigious jobs and have a better standard of living? Do you think that your own parents think that way, or is there a general expectation society?

Beth, if your children ended up with jobs like supermarket cashier or a garbage man, would you be disappointed in them, would you be embarrassed to tell your friends what they do for a living?

I am wondering if people think there is pressure from society (or parents) to be successful. If a University professor had a son who became an electrician, would every one think the son was too stupid to follow in his fathers footsteps?

Answer 1

I think it's important to be happy in life, whether you work 60 hours per week as an attorney and bring in a six-figure salary, or work 20 hours per week as a cafeteria lunch lady. What's important is that you're happy in your chosen profession and content with the way you're living your life. Money doesn't buy happiness

Answer 2

I thought that was the whole purpose. My goal as a parent is to try to be a better parent than mine were. My other goal is to raise my children so they can have a better life than the one I had.

Answer 3

I think parents always want their children to have a better life than they did--but success --well there are many measures of what success is--and who said that success is made up of many failures?

Answer 4

I think you may have answered your own question.

It's all to do with expectations as you start to learn in early childhood your parents encourage confidence for a better life and to succeed.

Answer 5

I do not know why should it be...competitive world is always hungry for prestige...but from time to time everyone asks himself is it fulfilling

Answer 6

depends on who your parents are

Answer 7

it will help you out with money