Use those teaching moments to train a new ER.
I disagree on "normal" parents. Kids want to know that their family is special, and if their parents don't have to work then the kids want to see that they can do the same someday.
I think "I wish my parents were normal" comes during the teenage years, when they're so unlikeable that you'll go to great lengths to embarrass them anyway.
But we've been through this with our 12-year-old: "I worked at ___ for ___ years and saved my money. Then we decided that I'd stay home to help take care of you guys while Mom works. When you start school, I might go back to work or I might just retire and surf all the time."
Bedtime reading: "If You Made a Million"
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...f=sr_1_1/102-5722326-4386521?v=glance&s=books Your heart will swell with pride at your kid's "Read To Me Day" when they start explaining banks & stocks to the other first-graders. Any kid whose parents own a piece of McDonalds is a giant among mortals.
When they're older and know how to save money for a goal (a toy, a movie, whatever) you can mention that you've been saving your money for retirement.
When they start talking about jobs, talk about the ones you liked (hopefully there's at least one) but (if it's the case) point out that you like retirement better. Explain that someday they may find a job they really love and want to do forever, but until that happens they should save money for retirement in case they decide to retire early and do whatever they want. (At this age, getting married and staying home to raise families are yucky.
Sometimes kids decide that "retired" is another word for "broke & penniless" and start displaying extreme frugality. When that surfaces, point out that you have a budget, and there's enough money for the things the family needs to have. "Wants" are something we have to budget for and we can't get everything we want. In our house the budget is an extremely powerful tool.
Then you're ready for "Are we rich?" or, as my kid put it: "Holy @#$%, we have that much money?!?" ("Who's "we", Kemosabe?!?") Explain that you have to have a lot of money in investments to pay for the retirement budget because it has to last another 80 years (older than Grandpa!). If "rich" means "we can buy anything we want" then no, we're not rich. If "rich" means "we don't have to work if we watch our budget" then yes, we're rich.
But you, kid, you're broke and you need to get a job.
If the subject comes up at my wife's work (if she's working!), my wife just says "He's a surf bum." No further questions.
Our kid is just beginning to realize that "We're retired so that we can stay home and be there for you all day!" isn't necessarily a good thing...