Yes yes and yes. A couple of thoughts: HOW we tell children "reality" will be critical. We need to be mindful of our own hurts and resentments, and deal with not allowing them to leak through our words...even as the words need to be said.

I also think we need to be re-thinking work. (I'm doing a lot of study about this at the moment--trying to re-frame!) Because another truth here is that you ARE doing what you wanted--that is, writing, an presenting ideas to the world (thank you!) and you're also a bookseller--which to my mind, as a writer, is sacred work :)

To imbue children with "hope" by way of finding and creating meaning in all they do. It may not pay big in dollars, but it pays in other ways. Yesterday I filled out an artists/finances city survey for where I live in Canada...I listed my annual income for decades, and the results of various choices, both my own and those thrust upon me...and the last question almost made me bawl: it was asking if I would have chosen a different career path if I could, and I had to say no. I've done what is meaningful to me.

Huge HUGE topic. Thank you for writing about this.

Keep writing...