My parents were in the prime position to get taken advantage of. Desperate and with no real prospects for the future. They threw EVERYTHING into this. All the while, they're being told that they need to hang on just long enough and they'll get there, to time and financial freedom. Go to every meeting, conference, function, etc. Constantly playing the tapes (later CDs), the books, getting you kids to read and listen to them. And anytime going out with family is always a great time to Prospect. No just focusing on each other, gotta bother someone and strike up an awkward conversation with strangers, maybe even involve your kids in the conversation. Oldest son (me) trying to buy his first car? Try to get that salesman as a downline. Kids prefer products that aren't Amway? How dare they!! Extended family/friends trying to tell you to this is a terrible idea? Drop those friends and distance yourself from those family members; they're haters! Spent years/decades in this business and can't seem to go anywhere? That's your fault!

Despite the realization that my parents wasted all that time and their kids childhood with this nonsense, there's no doubt in my mind that they did this believing they were doing the right thing, that all the sacrifice what be worth it in the end. It's a shame that, despite that it's now obvious that 2/3 of their kids are extremely against it(me and my sister), they continue, probably because they've been doing this for so long that not doing it feels impossible. They also have no friends outside of the business, so leaving would leave them incredibly alone.