I'm not sure why this was flagged but I vouched because it does seem like an interesting point. I didn't finish The Americans but as I remember, one of the key tensions was between the dad who was coming to care more about living a fulfilling life with his family, and the mom who was deeper into the mission and the whole Soviet officer philosophy.

I also don't have kids, but all of my friends who do seem to see them as the most important thing in their lives. It is interesting to see the strength of ideas that can rise above that.

I don't think it's a generational thing though. I think older and younger generations are equally "susceptible" to these sorts of ideas.