We see it all the time. Spurred by guilt and the advice of countless parenting experts, the new style of parenting maxes out on permissive quality time even as it minimizes quantity time and consistent discipline. This pattern is only exacerbated by the fact that many children are led deeper and deeper into disturbing and disruptive behavior by their deep hunger for parental attention. And nobody, not even a parent, enjoys the company of bratty children. Thus, the golden child loses his sheen and the imperial baby comes home to find that his power over both of his subjects has evaporated.
Similar sentiments abound in parenting magazines.
Publicly we profess unconditional love for children. But perhaps we're hiding our true attitudes to our children. The cult of the baby defeats itself because parents who treat children as the ultimate consumer item often end up not loving, but secretly resenting and even hating their children. As an enhancement to personal freedom, career goals, and social status, children are more often than not terribly disappointing. So we have a culture that professes to adore children even as it disposes of unwanted children in trash cans and abortion clinics and foists all too many wanted children onto substitute parents who make, on average, less than minimum wage.