>>>Let me ask you this... Suppose Mom & Dad decide that owning a new boat would make them both incredibly happy, but the costs would leave less money for the kids' education, clothing and activities. Should the parents buy the boat? Should parental happiness always take precedence?>>>
Now who is oversimplifying things? I did not mean "happy" in the sense of personal gratification, I mean "happy" in the content/secure way of being in a solid stable relationship. But you can split hairs and be argumentative just for the sake of it all day. You go ahead and ignore your spouse all for the sake of your children's happiness (and the same can be said for the child wanting a new toy at the expense that can't be afforded, I'm sure you didn't mean it that way no more than I did).