I think most points hit the mark. I'd be interested in discussing the points you disagreed with.

I thought the author spent too much time delving into affluent society's narcissism. Not having ever been affluent myself, I had a hard time gauging it. I don't even know anybody who employs a nanny. At the middle income to lower incomes however I think the author has some very good points.

As a parent of a 5 and 2 year old, I can get a bit sensitive when the topic of parenting comes up. Perhaps we do overanalyze ourselves, and I do think we have a tendency to overcompensate for our parents mistakes, who overcompensated for their parents mistakes and on and on. The pendulum never stops swinging, because there are no perfect parents.

Most of the points agreed with my conservative viewpoint. Kids need to spend more time with their parents, siblings, and creatively entertaining themselves. They need to spend less time in front of the TV, video games etc. This is the only point in the article where I started feeling pangs of guilt. One because I'm a dad who enjoys video games and tv. I do try to restrict that time to after hours when my kids are in bed, so there isn't much guilt there. My wife and I do rely on the television too much to keep our kids entertained. We monitor what they watch, but less on how much they watch. I worry about it, but at the same time remind myself that they are not obese, and do spend time doing other activities, like playing, reading, coloring and running around in the backyard. So my guilt is alleviated in a small way, nevertheless still there.

I won't comment on the daycare portion too much, since I don't have any real experience with it other than to say I think the early years are better spent at home with their mothers, than a paid day care providor. Yeah I know, sexist of me for not including fathers in my statement and for ignoring the fact that women need careers. So, before the skewering begins, I'm going to say this a personal belief for an ideal situation. In the real world not all women make as good of mothers as the fathers, and in most modern families kids only get one of the above, which makes daycare almost a mandatory condition. But since this is all about me afterall, :) I just want to make the point that my wife and I have sacrificed the affluent lifestyle 2 careers could provide us by relying solely on my income so she could raise our kids in the early years. So its not hypocritical of me to hold the belief, since were living what we think is the ideal.

I'm out of time, but maybe I'll comment more later. One last note worthy of comment though. The comment on religion of today hit the center of the bullseye in my opinion with regards to mainstream Christianity. Religion that doesn't require anything of the practicioners is useless as a religion, but serves the narcissist very well in reinforcing the belief that every thing is ok as long as you say you've been saved through grace.

Ducking for cover now, I'll check back later to see what people have to say about me. :)

narcicistically yours,

Steve G.