This was the discussion topic we were having last night, a bunch of gambling friends and one of them an expecting dad. There were counter arguments that his child also would turn out a gambler like he is.
The arguments were that it is his in his gene and that'll pass on to his child, since every one in his family was a gambler.
The counter argument was that the child would make a logical decision and genes won't play any part in this.
Which brought us to another important question what if turns out a gambler would they both play together. Would he be comfortable?
Amid this he walked out and texted me he didn't wish to gamble anymore, so wanted your views on this.
The arguments were that it is his in his gene and that'll pass on to his child, since every one in his family was a gambler.
The counter argument was that the child would make a logical decision and genes won't play any part in this.
Which brought us to another important question what if turns out a gambler would they both play together. Would he be comfortable?
Amid this he walked out and texted me he didn't wish to gamble anymore, so wanted your views on this.
First of I want say that I agree with those who said that inclination to gambling can't be inherent. Secondly, kids when they grow up tend to behave in contradiction to what their parents do. For example if parents smoke their kids don't smoke and vice versa. I know there are other opinions on this, but that's what I know from my experience. From what you have written I have an impression that your friends were joking mostly and also that none of you is actually an addicted gambler. And that's a good thing. Keep it healthy, guys. Gambling can be fun if you don't let it ruin your life.
In many cases children don't follow parents patterns when they see it in a negative way, in a traumatic way. For an example: If the child has negative memories about the parents drunken, he will probably stay away from alcohol. The same can happen about gambling, but if there aren't negative memories about parents + gambling, there are higher chances this child will gamble too.
But we can't predict it, the child may gamble or may not gamble, it's a surprise and everything parents can do is to be prepared to deal with this situation better as possible if it happens.
The worst thing parents can do for their kids is telling them to stay away from gambling because it's a known fact that the forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest. It is much better imo to let them play in the early age, to let them lose $10 and then to explain them that gambling is about losing your money. Thus after losing $10 while in their childhood they will be protected from losing thousands of USD, years later when they become adults.
