All parents, understandably, love and hope to be loved by their children. But that shouldn't be the goal to the exclusion of all others. And Bruni isn't far from the mark when he claims parents often half-expect children to be able to raise themselves without any set rules or boundaries.

Somehow, over the last fifteen years, parents have increasingly embraced the idea that rules are for other people's children, and that bending them to make things easier in the short term is a good idea.

It isn't until later in life that most people discover one of the keys to happiness: gratitude. The concept of thankfulness can be difficult for adults to embrace, and even harder for children and teens who believe the world revolves around them. Here's how to begin.

We need to offer kids and teens a way to measure their frustrations realistically if they're going to have any perspective.

Do your kids have chores, or do you think they are an out-of-date idea? Is paying for hard work a good incentive, or is it a blatant disregard for child labor laws?

Take that time we are blessed with in this generation to stop putting away their laundry and start thinking about their characters. Think what great parenting you could do if you delegated some of the tedious work to your kids.