Underachievers, a.k.a. parents

[cindysphynx]

Amy wrote:

> Criticism from one's parents sounds the weirdest, though.  They 
> thought you were getting all that education in order to do 
>*nothing but* work for pay for the rest of your life?  

Why, yes!  

>And exactly who would they prefer to raise their grandchildren?

Anyone will do.  ;-)

Seriously, you know what they were thinking?  Having a kid who is 
doing something that sounds important or unusual confers certain 
Bragging Rights.  You know, a "Look what *I* raised!" sort of 
thing.  So when the child decides to do something hopelessly 
mundane, something *anyone* can do, well . . . that doesn't generate 
quite the envy in one's friends and relations, does it?

They're not evil people, though.  They have just caved under the 
pressure to measure worth by income and prestige, and they prefer to 
live vicariously through their children.  

It happens in the best families, you know.  ;-)

>Amy   
> who confesses that after a day with a four-year-old, she *is* 
>bored, and wonders if it's possible to farm them out every other day

Cindy (who finds that spending time with a four year old is 
equivalent to spending time with many adults)