Rich

EXPECTATIONS, depicts the struggle between what we desire for ourselves and our familial obligations. This is personified by Chris and Matt Taylor, identical twins, who are trying to win their overbearing father’s approval and acquire their trust funds. Their best friend and roommate, Aiden O’Boyle, left his family behind in Ireland to pursue a career in dance.

    Matt: People think being rich is glamorous. Those on the outside don’t know what it’s like. They look at the boarding schools, swimming pools, new cars before you turn 15, and they think ‘where can I sign up for that life?’ They don’t see what’s underneath. They don’t realize that kids whose parents work 80-90/hr weeks don’t know them.  When your father schemes day and night on ways to build the empire he doesn’t have time for fishing trips or amusement parks. Do you know what it’s like to get your first business suit at age three? Chris and I were trained to run the business before we were toilet trained. 

We were smart kids, we had to be. We learned to read before most could say the alphabet. Top schools from day one. There was no other way. We had to be the very best at everything because our father was the very best. That’s the truth about being rich. There are expectations that you can’t escape. You wouldn’t think that a child’s inability to tie his shoes ‘on schedule’ would have an impact on multibillion dollar family, but, apparently, it does.

Really, it’s all very simple. Our father wasn’t about to let ‘two punk kids jeopardize his hard earned success’. The thought of having a hand in ‘producing’ something, or someone, less ‘valuable’ than he, was his worst nightmare.  I don’t know what that would mean for us. I hope to not find out anytime soon.

There it is. That’s what it means to be rich. Wealthy parents want you to fit into the mold they set in their minds before you were even born. Doesn’t matter if you want to, or can. It’s how the rich get richer. Not so glamorous, is it?

 

What do you think? Is Matt right? Is it just wealthy parents who have a picture of what they expect their kids to be? Is a parent's mental picture ever really attainable?

Please share in the comments. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for reading!

Comments

[Sue London]

I think that Matt believes he is right, but of course it is a jaded and narrow view - which tells us something about his character.

[Liz Borino]

Matt is a very interesting character and he takes his father much more seriously than Chris does. Could be both good and bad. Thanks for the feedback!

[Jeremy]

Matt thinks as a child, a spoiled child. He thinks that trying to live up to his father's expectations is stressful, because he hasn't yet learned what true difficulty and hardship in life is. At some point, he needs to be exposed to someone who has.

[Francesca]

Matt's feelings are completely justified given his own experiences. But it is not only wealthy parents who have a picture of what they expect their kids to be; it is virtually ALL parents. All HEALTHY parents want their kids to be the best they can be. I don't think there is anything wrong with encouraging your kids and giving them a loving push to reach their potential. Of course, it is critical for parents to understand that the goals they set for their kids and their kids' OWN goals may not match. In this case (and it is most often the case), it is important for parents to support their kids in whatever will make them happy, as their happiness should be the priority at the end of the day. And no, kids can never live up to their parents' mental picture. I think it's perfectly acceptable and normal for parents to want nothing but the best for and from their kids. High standards for someone or something generally means you care deeply about that someone or something. As long as parents recognize that their kids will never actually live up to perfection (a theoretical, unrealistic concept) and will most likely have different standards for THEMSELVES, life will be okay.

[Liz Borino]

Jeremy- Thanks for your input. I now know that I need to make the stakes clearer in the post. I hope you come back and read some more.

Francesca- Very insightful comment.Whatever push kids receive from their parents should be with the kids wants and needs in mind and not the parent's idea.