But we know having too much money doesn’t breed contentment and success, either. There are serious challenges to bringing up kids — to being kids — who have it all. Research has found that privileged kids are, as a whole, more self-centered, depressed, and self-destructive. They’re more narcissistic, but struggle to develop a sense of self. And yet, they excel, often quite notably, in academics, sports, and other pursuits. So what we have is a generation of paradox: Bright, talented, increasingly troubled children. And when they don’t excel, they often fail quite spectacularly.
