This was a great article in TIME this week and I thought it was quite relevant to the topic in general. IMHO, more and more it seems that parents seem to be trying to fight battles for their children, offering them the path of least resistance. I'd argue that solving your own problems is one of the most quintessential skills a child can learn.
All great rebellions are born of private acts of civil disobedience that inspire rebel bands to plot together. And so there is now a new revolution under way, one aimed at rolling back the almost comical overprotectiveness and overinvestment of moms and dads. The insurgency goes by many names — slow parenting, simplicity parenting, free-range parenting — but the message is the same: Less is more; hovering is dangerous; failure is fruitful. You really want your children to succeed? Learn when to leave them alone. When you lighten up, they'll fly higher. We're often the ones who hold them down.
Some teachers talk of "Stealth Fighter Parents," who no longer hover constantly but can be counted on for a surgical strike just when the high school musical is being cast or the starting lineup chosen.As for the family in question - sounds like they are educated and their kids will likely be too. But will the kids know about hard work, or will they wilt the 1st time their boss says "get it done by tomorrow...or else". I see those kids as three more casualties to the Entitlement Generation. What will they do once they hit University? Workout a homework plan with their Profs? I'd love to see them try that...