Regarding that Washington Post story, the writer saw a lot of tension when highly educated couples have babies before 30, thus sacrificing career advancement and income. The young guns struggle to connect because they are viewed as having made a mistake and don't have the status symbols of power careers (clothes, vacations). Why would you spend $80G on a degree and then have babies? Get the career in flight, then think about family. Lots of time on the bio clock, right? Typically, those interviewed are glad they had their kids young but were struggling with inevitable comparisons with people who made different choices.

First, as a married father of two, I don't struggle to connect with any parent who has same-age kids as I do. Common life stage trumps just about everything. Don't believe me? Look how modern churches organize--from youth to single 20somethings, to divorced thirtysomethings, to empty-nesters. Once you turn 18, it's your experience status, not career status, that drives associations. I have parent friends young and old, and we find a lot of common ground.

Underlying this whole story is how kids interrupt, delay, or otherwise sidetrack adults' options--to connect socially, to advance professionally. Well, this is true. I do not get to do certain things anymore. But, I do get to do things I longed for when I was on the other side looking in. And the challenge as a parent is to keep my eyes on the priceless moments with those who are bear God's image and mine and spend less time on all the "cool" stuff. In theory I want it all, in reality I can't have it all because the law of priorities says everything can't be priority one at the same time. Parenting is a ton of self-denial and accelerates growing up. The rewards really don't compare with career prestige or a long weekend in Cancun.