"Rich people suffer because they don't have meaning in their lives, and poor people suffer because they have the desire to be rich."
Yes, ever notice why we never hear of homeless people committing suicide? They struggle day to day. Perhaps it is this very struggle that motivates their will to survive. On the other hand we do hear of of little rich kids over dosing on presciption drugs or slitting their wrists. A life with no struggle or problems is vacuous and it loses its meaning somewhat.
However I will say this, that the poor dont just suffer because they desire to be rich, they suffer from the cold, sicknesses, loneliness, poor nutrition etc that comes with being poor AND they suffer from the desire to be rich (though "rich" to a beggarman probably means acquiring enough money to afford a room for the night.
I enjoyed your story, it had overlaps with the story of budha. I think its okay if parents wish to shield and protect their children from the suffering of the world, but in the story above the parents took that to the extreme.