parents, what's your take on this?

After you instill in your kids to do the best they can, watch them and provide guidance and support. Too many parent's push too hard for their kids to be "great". Many, many times the parent's are trying to "compensate" for what they consider their own failure to be exceptional and do something out of the ordinary and push their kids too hard. Desire for success and determination and work ethic also has to come from within. This whole idea of the American extravaganza that you must have everything bigger and better than your neighbor or friends is absolutely ludicrous. If your'e on of these people who is trying to keep up with the Jones and success to you is the expensive car and fat house you won't be a friend of mine.