But i don't see where you get that her views are elitist. Seems like a projection of some issue of yours onto her and a pretty unfair projection at that.
+1
The issues in modern American society are a little more than anecdotal, as someone has suggested. Parents vicariously living through kids is "crampant" as Chickenman would say.
We have little leagues where a kid who throws 40 isn't allowed to play because he's too fast and other kids get their feelings hurt because they aren't successful. The problem is not the kids and their feelings getting hurt. They get over it. Just like we did. The problem is the parents and grandparents and their feelings getting hurt. Junior strikes out every time and sad mommy and grandma tell him he's wonderful and can be whatever he wants to be. Junior needs to hear the truth a little more.
Teaching elder, stories don't get any more anecdotal than above.
Okay. Then what is it that you would like?
Facts, something other than a made up story about johnny at little league or that "a whole generation is ruined by parents" story by an assistant dean at Stanford based on her view of incoming Stanford freshman.
We live in the greatest time ever for humans on earth. We are happier, healthier, richer, have more leisure time and a longer life expectancy than anytime in history.
Here an example: An average american retires at 62. A hundred years ago the average american died at 51.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...-kids_n_3472719.html
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/4556...-young/#.VjO8Uy-FPIU
http://www.askcoachwolff.com/2...concern-and-growing/
http://www.sciencedaily.com/re.../03/100310083443.htm
http://www.athleticbusiness.co...ning-popularity.html
http://www.theguardian.com/uk/.../06/schools.children
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/com...o-much-pressure.html
This one ought to give you a great primer on the growth of parental oppressiveness. Hint, it started in the 1960s with the Self-Esteem movement.
http://www.theatlantic.com/edu...an-childhood/279868/
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Here are a few articles for you to look at. But, I would not be so quick to just casually sweep away the ever increasing reports by school administrators, sports coaches, psychologists and even orthopedic surgeons telling us that there are a lot of parents out there who are just ridiculous. They are in positions to observe and experience not only numerous cases, but to also get a sense of various changes that have occured over time. They are in a very good position to offer far more than anecdotal thoughts.
You can't tell me you haven't run across this change yourself. Yesterday's parent at the Little League game whom the other parents sort of laughed at with others behind their back are today's common parent.
P.s.
As to children today being the happiest generation, the matter is highly debatable.