instant gratification?

is this the world we live in? this is what we've become? where we HAVE to have everything the second we want it. where do you draw the line between wants and needs? where did simplicity go? the ability to just be thankful for what little things you do have. i grew up in suburban long island where my zip code wasn't acceptable in the town i went to grade school in, where i guess you could say yuppie parents went to country clubs during the summer, moms didn't work - in fact, it was a sign of your husband's wealth if you could afford to stay home and hire a nanny - even though you were doing NOTHING. both my parents worked and got divorced. and i loved my house, i still do. i might have wanted a dad who worked a 9-5 and was home at dinner like those yuppies, but when i grew up i realized 1) that my dad's pretty cool, and he works really hard for me to have the things i have and 2) some of those yuppies weren't all that happy either. it's so much easier for kids to tease others based on the brand of clothing they wear, and for one kid to want to fit in so badly that they make their parents break the bank to give them the abercrombie and fitch jeans or the hollister polos. we all give into it, but once we grow up do we grow out of it? do we grow comfortable in our own skin? that's the important thing. i love being from outside the mainstream, having immigrant parents, knowing i work for the money i spend. my parents raised me with values more concerned with allowing myself to get what i need instead of always giving in to getting what i want. i hope i make them as proud as they make me.