I am extremely privileged. In terms of the advantages I had in life, I could scarcely have asked for a better deal. Of course, of the many blessings I enjoyed, all paled in comparison to the greatest one: I had dedicated parents who loved me.
I say this not to gloat (though I’m happy to brag about the wonderful people who raised me) but to make a joyful point. Of all the advantages life can offer, this one can be given by anyone. And it will matter more than the rest combined.
If you want your children to have a wonderful life, you can. Just be the best parent you can be. And I will give you one clear directive on how to do that – find someone whose path in life seems similar to what you want for your children, and then go meet their parents. Find as many good parents as you can this way, and model their behaviors.
If your parents were less than stellar, don’t harbor resentment. Forgive and move on, because they were just people. But don’t try to just do the opposite of what they did. The opposite of bad isn’t always good – sometimes it’s just a different kind of bad. Instead, find good role models for parenting, and make that your whole focus.
If you do that, you break the cycle. Your kids will grow up to say the same thing about you as I say about my mother and father. And they deserve it.
The Opportunity Machine 