I will rephrase you sentence a bit - kids not just not have to follow parents footsteps (even though parents would love to see that), but must live their own life with their own experience, make their own mistakes. First of all they must choose the life they want to have, not that we dream about and want to see.
Even if we are a totally addicted gambling junkies, and we realize how addictive gambling is, how it might change or destroy lives, we should not hide the fact that we gamble, we must only explain all the negative and positive effects of gambling. Maybe we have to explain it now one, not twice, maybe even 100 times. Also we have to give reasons why we gamble, and let them make a decision if they want to gamble also or not.
I mean what is the point of being so much overprotective parent, when at 18 the kid will be free to do anything and we have no rights to to interfere. Let him be prepared for adult life with his experience and skill tree maxed
Yes, it has to be like that, when children are adults they must be able to choose and live their own lives, there is no coercion in that matter, but from an early age if children see their parents' behavior, for example, if they like to gamble, then they must be able to decide wisely. whether they should follow in their parents' footsteps or not. Because most children consider their parents' behavior to be the best for them as motivation for a good life.
Therefore, if parents are addicted to gambling, they should still be careful so that their own children don't find out so as not to trigger problems within the family itself.
The protective nature of parents towards their children is a form of loving care, but parents should not be too protective of their children in guiding their growth and development, because this is also not good for the child's psychology, therefore they must guide them slowly. and parents must be able to understand every character that their child has so that it does not become misunderstanding and trigger problems.