Comparing Kids

Right now, I’m a little annoyed. More like a lot pissed. Normally, I don’t write posts that are angry or rants or demeaning to other people. However…..I think this occasion calls for it.

I HATE when people compare my kid to theirs. When they try to make me or my child feel less than. Perhaps it’s unintentional and they are unaware of what they are doing. Perhaps they just want to “one up” my kid. Maybe they just think that their kid is the greatest thing on the planet and that they have a perfect little family.

Honestly, either way, there is NO excuse for it. My son is 4 years old. He’s wild, crazy, shy and sweet all at the same time. He is not perfect. He sometimes tries that tantrum thing (totally doesn’t fly in my house). He often makes me talk to myself by ignoring what I tell him to do. But he also likes to take out the garbage and put the clothes into the dryer. He likes to pick flowers for me. When I ask him how I look…he likes to say “Perfect!”…then run away. He makes me feel like I’ve done a great job.

So when some a**hole parent comes along and waxes on about how their 4 year old already knows how to read, knows all of his letters, can count to 232 and blah blah blah. I usually ignore it. When they say this in front of my child…..I don’t. Because being the sensitive kid that he is (even though he’ll tell you that he’s a Transformer Power Ranger Ninja Assassin) he’ll think something’s wrong with him. He will feel like he is inferior. And he will get quiet and give me a look that will break my heart. And I will take the higher ground and say to that parent “You must be so proud!”. All while I imagine beating them senseless with a golf club, a la Stewie.

Even though he won’t say anything, I’ll know those words took a hold in his mind. When he counts for me later and forgets a number, he’ll get frustrated and say “I don’t know anything!” And then I will hug him and tell him what a brilliant boy he is. I’ll tell him that he is loved and cherished. I’ll tell him to not listen to what people say…he’s perfect.

And then he’ll hug me and kiss me. Shout to me he loves me then run off to play and get into mischief. And when he’s gone, I will curl into a ball and cry my eyes out because I feel as if I’ve failed my son. As adults, we must be mindful of what we say. How could you say something so mean to make a little face crumple and fall? Has anyone else experienced this? What did you do or say? I wanted to punch this particular person in her face, but kept my cool. What would you have done?