The Newsroom

My parents were babies of the Depression, and to me what stands out most about that generation is its understanding that things, in fact, can get worse.
They saw their parents struggle to put food on the table, heat their homes and wring every ounce of life out of well-worn hand-me-downs. It gave them a strong work ethic and an appreciation of things later generations took for granted - home ownership, a college education, a career track.
History may look back on today's youth the same way. The collapse of the stock market, layoffs and record foreclosures - all in an era of instant 24/7 media scrutiny - have created an economic and financial dynamic unrivaled since the Great Depression, and made us all more keenly aware of what a good thing we've had and how quickly it can all vanish.
It's a lesson we can't allow our kids to forget. If in fact we're committed to their living better lives than we have - the dream of practically every parent - then avoiding the mistakes we've made is critical.
It speaks, too, to the way we carry ourselves and the choices we make. How do we channel our fears into hope? How do we come up with pragmatic solutions to our very real problems?
As I wrote yesterday, our children are watching our every move. Let's give them the emotional tools they need to fulfill their dreams.