I'm the father, and hope my kids end up with a million in their lifetime. I started with enough of a negative hand to know it's unlikely for me without a startup or real estate miracle.

That's great, I wish you and your children the best. I'm just noting that this 'rags to riches' story has the protagonists starting out with $200k in net assets and a great understanding of how the market works. It's hard for a 'climb out of debt' story to actually tug the heartstrings when the net assets are worth five times the national median wage (~$44k in the US).

For what it's worth, I grew up in the lower middle class. I was never in poverty, but I saw it enough to know how lucky I was. I don't have a problem with 'how to better yourself financially' stuff (terrible at it myself, to be honest), but it sticks in my craw when people with six-figure assets and a median income are painted as 'doing it tough' :)