A friend of mine recently told me his wife's New Year's resolution was to not compare their children to other children. It's a good premise, because whether we compare our kids in hyper-competitive or self-deprecating ways, it's probably not a good message for them or for us. It's far too easy to get caught up in the peer pressure of thinking one's kids are behind, to mask insecurities about one's own parenting skills behind a constant stream of self-aimed barbs, or to inflate ourselves and our kids above others to feel good. Better instead to celebrate successes, be patient about areas in need of improvement, and love and cherish unconditionally throughout. Easier said than done, right? I guess that makes it an apt New Year's resolution: worthy to strive after, challenging enough to stretch you, and with daily opportunities to do better.
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