Actually, Rhett Butler in Gone With The Wind addresses this situation with Scarlett. He tells her that when parents have a hard go in life (Scarlett during the reconstruction), the parent always tries to spare their children the hardship they have endured. This turns the children into soft, spoiled things since hardships are what shapes character.
I don't know if I would take parenting tips from Rhett Butler... but, from observations in life... Rhett's not too far off the mark.
Kind of explains why the Great Generation, of the Depression and WWII were parents to the Baby Boom generation of Bill Clinton, doesn't it. (Not that generalities about a generation apply to everyone it that generation, of course)