It is very admirable to teach a child to be contented and to give a clear and practical idea of living life through every step and work of life. The greatest example of loving a child would be to teach him reality no matter how hard it may be. Failing to teach children what they should be taught by falling in love is endangering that child. For example if a child is not given an understanding of difficult situations from childhood then he will grow up to deal with all those small difficult situations that will become unbearable for him.
You've just said my mind, even the bible mentioned that parents should train their kids in the way they should grow and when they grow up, the trainings they've received won't depart from them, they'll also pass those lessons to their own kids and that's how the circle keeps going, but when parents do not give proper home training to their kids the society would do that for them and sometimes such kids always end up becoming a public menace.
Children who learn discipline from their parents would always make a difference in the society and even when things don't go smoothly, their survival instincts won't lead to crime, investment in kids doesn't end in education or inheritance, children still needs discipline and good manners, even skill acquisition too, be it technical or vocational to excel in the society else your efforts in investing on them would be waste.
I know someone who spent lots to send his son abroad for studies but the child left his agenda when he got their and started doing drugs, he came back from the states wasted and his parents where so disappointed, I believe if they've disciplined him enough with good morals, he would've end up making his parents proud.