[mkautzm]

> actually, I think a lot of the points he makes about raising kids are applicable to less-fortunate families. Doing chores, their approach to schooling, food, family vacations, community service, backpacking and camping and in general self discipline do not require having lots of money. It just requires that parents be attentive.

What?

In what world do Vacations and Backpacking and Camping require little to no money? Those are expensive activities in both time and raw cash. When you don't have a lot of money, food is also not something you get to be picky about because you don't have a choice -- You can eat what's on the table or you can literally starve. That is the real circumstance for people living below the poverty line in this country of which there are plenty (http://www.nccp.org/topics/childpoverty.html).

What bugs me is there are a non trivial number of people, yourself included, who are entirely blind to the circumstances of the poor and struggling. These are the people who insist that if you 'just work hard' you can make it, or that education is some kind of great equalizer. These are the people who also generally have a lot of influence in politics, both locally and otherwise, and proceed to campaign against what little social safety net we have because they couldn't be bothered to give up a fraction of their disposable income so millions of people could have food to eat and running water.

[jimnotgym]

I'm with you mkautzm. During my upbringing I went on holiday twice, we simply could not afford it. My Dad worked so many hours including weekends in a physical job, and was exhausted when he got home, being attentive was not really an option. I spend all the time I can talking to and playing with my kids, but it is at a real premium, so I don't waste it running a stupid rulebook.

Growing up we used to service cars ourselves but didn't have the kind of tools to do major jobs, as they cost money. Nobody bought be a car neither.

Personally I would never make 3 year old do cleaning jobs. I think the guy in the article is weird. I also didn't see where he actually paid for college.

Btw I don't have a weird feeding regimen for my kids and they eat just fine. In fact he youngest massively prefers fruit and veg. Perhaps I should force feed him meat because I have a puritanical rule book.