Are/Were You Smarter Than Your Parents & Are Your Kids Smarter Than You? (wife, son)

[nobodysbusiness]

Do you feel that you are/were smarter than your parents, and are your kids smarter than you?

[Sydney123]

Well my mother is a cardio vascular/ thoracic surgeon and my dad is a lawyer.. so they’re probably smarter.
I am smarter than my future kids though. Lol

[MinivanDriver]

There is an important distinction between intelligence and wisdom. At age 56, based on my parents' life decisions, I would regard myself as decidedly wiser.

[Mattie]

Originally Posted by MinivanDriver

There is an important distinction between intelligence and wisdom. At age 56, based on my parents' life decisions, I would regard myself as decidedly wiser.

Absolutely. If the OP is focused on IQ, then, no. My parents were quite intelligent, and I consider my spouse and I, as well as our children, to be equally so. But my parents managed to marry, buy a home, and raise 7 successful children, while my husband and I married a little later, bought a home, and raised 3. Out of our own kids, only the eldest has married, bought a house, and had a child, the other two, in their mid to late 20s, are still single, and in no rush to change that status. I wonder if they worry that they aren't ready to take those next big steps, whereas previous generations knew they were.

[marino760]

I'm more educated than my parents, not smarter.

[Willamette City]

I think I'm smarter then my mother, but not my dad. My daughter is definitely smarter then I or my wife am.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by MinivanDriver

There is an important distinction between intelligence and wisdom. At age 56, based on my parents' life decisions, I would regard myself as decidedly wiser.

My thought, exactly. A lawyer can be well-trained in his profession, and show intelligent practice of that profession, but show tremendous ignorance in other areas of life.

One thing I've noticed about older generations, is that there was very little, if any, awareness and understanding of psychology. There was a tendency to callously blame others for their shortcomings, when it should have been obvious, that there was some kind of trauma at the root of certain behaviors of other people. Also, the blind conformism and acceptance of authority people grew up with through the 50's and into the 60's wasn't conducive to developing discernment and critical thinking.

[emm74]

Better educated than both of my parents, for sure. Different areas of strengths, but probably about the same as my dad, smarter than my mom in most ways.

My son is definitely smarter than me in math and science - I'm no slouch but he's very highly gifted in those areas. I probably beat him out in verbal expression and similar areas but it's close.

[nurider2002]

My dad was brilliant. I’m an idiot. But both of my brothers are very bright.

[CLfan1977]

I’m the same as my parents, and my mother retained mental sharpness till she died at 92. I’m becoming forgetful in my 70’s. Both my sons are smarter than I am.