PARENTING February 5, 2007 Issue

WHAT MAKES A KID 'ADVANTAGED'?

CURT WAHLBERG

IN THE UNITED STATES, "advantaged" often refers to the resources available to kids, and to how they're occupying their days. Recently, I've given some thought to what this means for today's young people. Do they attend private school and spend hours involved in extracurricular activities? Do they own a personal laptop or MP3 player, or go on world-class vacations?

Perhaps these things give a certain material advantage in life, but I'm finding that the true advantage comes from a different basis. It's about spiritual insight on fulfillment and joy.

For our young family, my wife and I feel that the things we do, the trips we take, and the things we buy, really should be for the satisfaction of gaining a more insightful and joyous perspective on life. Otherwise, we'd only contribute to filling our kids' days with distraction. This doesn't mean we rule out family recreation or computers (we have three), but I like to think of these things as a means to finding something more lasting. In other words, our intention isn't to deprive the children of things they need—even want—but to guide them away from a focus that would ultimately prove unfulfilling.

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