New American Privileged

I never considered myself privilaged in the manner the economist or sociologists discuss. It todays economic times however, I have to say being married to a military man is a privliage indeed.

The more bizzare thought however, is the realization that our kids are growing up privilaged. Not rich, but privilaged. They have an attentive two parent household, more toys than they should have, good schools to attend and extra activities like swimming and karate to boot. They will have college funds and opportunities to make the rough college years a little more comfortable. Who's to say if they will be attending ivy league, but truth is our boys are privilaged... just not rich.

With the privilage of raising white men in this socitey however, I think it only responsible parenting that we teach them the truth, that they are privilaged. Denial of that fact will only lead to justification of greed and entitlement issues. I think there can be something to be said for gratitude of circumstances without being racist or elitist. The recognition of privilage among those of us who are privilaged needs to be a humbling and inclusive experience.

When I think about the circumstances in which Terry and I were raised, I can't help to divulge that we were not privilaged in our childhoods. The most disappointing thing I think we could encounter, it to strive to give our children every advantage we can afford only to have them look down their nose at us without even know it. We were the children who grew up in the emotional roller coaster of insecurity, and strive to provide security for our children. We may not have as much now as our neighbors, and we may not be Polyanna every miniute of the day, but despite our backgrounds we can appreciate them, teach our children to appreciate them and know in many ways we are privilaged.