THE PRICE OF PRIVILEGE by Madeline Levine, PH.D.

When my boys were younger, it just started the social pressure of taking the children to ALL kind of activities (English, because we are Romanians, therefore, English is a foreign language for us, German, individual sport but team sport as well, and at least one musical instrument). As a young mother, not knowing much but eager to give my boys the best start in life (and also so I could feel good about myself being a good mom 🙂 ) I started to check all the activities mentioned above.

My luck was Madeline Levine, M.D.
Due to her teachings from the book “The price of privilege” I changed my mentality as a parent.
“Our children benefit more from our ability to be ‘present’ than they do from being rushed off to one more activity.”

From Madeline Levine and her 25 years of experience as a psychologist treating adolescents from good American families, I understood:
“Adolescents patients suffer from readily apparent emotional disorders: addictions, anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, and assorted self-destructive behaviours.”
And there are consequences for the adolescents pushed to the extreme by the families to have high performances in school:
“Anxiety, depression, and somatic complaints lead the way for both boys and girls: girls are more prone to suffer internally, boys to act out with drugs and conduct problems.”

Thank you, Madeline Levine, for everything you taught me. As my husband is saying: <<You did well!>>

Editura Harper Collins, 2006