Whatever Your Kid Can Do, Mine Can Do Better
If you are already a parent you have likely experienced it. If you are about to become one you will undoubtedly suffer through it very soon. It is one of the little annoyances that comes with parenthood, but it is not one caused by your children; it is, in fact, inflicted by other parents. The aggravation I am referring to is the compulsion that some parents have to openly make comparisons between their children and other people’s kids.
It will probably strike you when you least expect it. You will be on the playground or at play group, having a good time chatting with the other parents as you all watch your children and then…bam…it happens! “Can you believe it? My little Johnny was singing his ABC’s in the crib this morning. Has your child started learning her letters yet?” It can be a little unsettling, especially when your child is still working on mastering the basics of a specific ability.
The temptation to get into a back and forth assessment can be great, particularly when you know that your kid is advanced in another area, but it is probably best left alone. While the kids almost certainly don’t understand what is going on at this point, (well, maybe Johnny because he is exceptionally gifted) comparing children is a bad habit to get in to. Kids need to know that they are appreciated for who they are, so starting this trend early has got to be a good thing.
I guess that it is easy to understand the impulse to compare. Everyone thinks (and rightfully so) that their child is exceptional. The truth is that every child is unique and has his/her own set of special talents, just as adults have strengths and weaknesses. What parents need to keep in mind about very young children is that their skills can vary quite widely in those first few years. They learn different things at different paces, but they are all amazing.
Posted by eMommie Blogger Kim P.- Mom to Findlay
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Tags: babies. baby, child comparisons, children, comparing kids, kids, parenting, parents
