[W]hat seems to have changed recently, according to childrearing experts, is
parental behavior - particularly among the most status-conscious and ambitious -
along with the kinds of behavior parents expect from their kids. The pressure to
do well is up. The demand to do good is down, way down, particularly if it's
the kind of do-gooding that doesn't show up on a college application. . . .

"We use kids like Prozac," he said. "People don't necessarily feel great about their spouse or their job but the kids are the bright spot in their day. They don't want to muck up that one moment by getting yelled at. They don't want to hurt. They don't want to feel bad. They want to get satisfaction from their kids. They're so precious to us - maybe more than to any generation previously. What gets thrown out the window is limits. It's a lot easier to pick their towel up off the floor than to get them away from the PlayStation to do it."