Al, you are on your game today. Brilliant observation.

I think people want an outle for regret because it burns away at them while they sit in their little offices pining for what could have been.. little girly people all of them..

And considering how everything you or I own, like, relate to or have fun with id directly connected to every decision made to date, how can one really have regret. Sure, I regret not joining the navy, but then I'd not hav ethe kids I have and the wife I have now..

...Sure, I'd probably be happy in my career (sniff sniff) and not hate every singe day from 8:31 am - 3:59 pm.. but still..

Clocktower... must find clocktower.. just to sit in it.. and watch......

I think we can lay the blame squarely at the feet of Gen Boom and Gen X (present company excepted) who are sometimes prone to imagining that if only they had played such-and-such opportunity correctly, they coulda been a contender. I think this attitude is behind the "helicopter parent" phenom too, where every stage of learning and development is far too important and critical to leave in the hands of the actual child or young adult, so it has to be stage-managed by the parent themself.

Elder generations may have been prone to it too, but probably not Gen Greatest; growing up in the Great Depression would likely make everything else seem like cherry sundaes.

I'm okay with letting children learn from their own mistakes as long as the harm isn't too life-threatening. And as long as they understand that drinking my scotch is a capital offense, age of majority or not. You do that and it's off to the mountainside to have your liver pecked out by eagles. I can always raise another kid; I can't always get certain single malts at the LCBO.

I'm with Chris. Helecopter parenting is a direct result of pining for "what could have been" and changing the pining into vicariously living through the kids.. Once our kids are on their own and self sufficiant ( and no, 33 liing at home is NOT acceptable) we are so so so moved to BC..

That is why the 2 kg shotput is coming in the mail with a 7.5 kg shotput. I want my kids to live vicariously though me at the same time as they are trying to out put me.

I'm only 28. I haven't really reached the age of regret yet... have I?

Temujin:

Just continue as you are in life but eventually let important decisions be made based on the input and concern of others.. soon enough, the regret will arrive in the mail like a bill in a red envelope that you forgot to pay