Thanks Jack, point well made.

It drives me crazy when I see parents deprive themselves “for the kids”. No, it’s not. Parents are obligated to live full lives in order to set an example. To get “buy in” and respect, one must respect oneself.

No matter what our dedication, everyone must experience some joy anyway.

But to be fair to your mom, back then joy was somehow associated with sin. Reefer Madness, no good birth control. Your message might not have gotten through back in the day when we were watching out for pinko communists.