Competitiveness in Parenting
November 22nd 2006 13:39
Why is it that as soon as you become a parent, or maybe it's just a mother as my husband doesn't seem to have this streak in him, that the competitive side of you emerges or begins?
Before my son came along I wasn't at all cometitive, you're looking at the woman here who as a ten year old girl entered a school swimming competition when she could just about swim and came last doing two laps of doggy paddle, I had no interest in winning just taking part. But now as a mother I just at times can't help myself. Don't get me wrong I'm not terrible and I try to stop myself and most times succeed but those odd occassions, Oh boy am I bad. I'm not one of those mums who won't congratulate another parent/child on accomplishing something but I do at times go "Oh that's great, my son can do that too blah blah blah blah blah..."
Why do we feel the need to be like this? We should be grateful of any child learning something not let the green eyed monster out and compete. Heck it's a cute child how can you as an adult compete with that?
Oh well such is life.
Before my son came along I wasn't at all cometitive, you're looking at the woman here who as a ten year old girl entered a school swimming competition when she could just about swim and came last doing two laps of doggy paddle, I had no interest in winning just taking part. But now as a mother I just at times can't help myself. Don't get me wrong I'm not terrible and I try to stop myself and most times succeed but those odd occassions, Oh boy am I bad. I'm not one of those mums who won't congratulate another parent/child on accomplishing something but I do at times go "Oh that's great, my son can do that too blah blah blah blah blah..."
Why do we feel the need to be like this? We should be grateful of any child learning something not let the green eyed monster out and compete. Heck it's a cute child how can you as an adult compete with that?
Oh well such is life.
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Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
There's nothing wrong with loving your child so much that you want to share their achievements with the world but yet it is a delicate balance between being competitively obsessed with your child and encouraging them and providing opportunities for them to grow.
It is a tough one.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Sarah White
coolgirlsar to the rescue
One Too Many Chocolate Bars
You're right there is nothing wrong with wanting to share your child's achievements with the world, it's just hard at times to draw the line and make it balance. I just wonder why we do it as you will always hear parents who are the main offenders of this type of behaviour complaining about others who do it. It's just funny in a way.
Sarah.