I recently read an excellent analogy to what we as parents often face - "The Wheel of Comparisons." This is a metaphorical wheel that spins around and stops at a given area where we as parents have fallen short. Mine would include things like, "Horrible role model for keeping the house picked up," "failed to instill a love of sports," and "too unorganized to have consistent chores."
I compare myself constantly as a parent. My kids are currently having a pretty low-key summer. Then I look around, and see so many people doing more than we are this summer. Should I insist my kids enroll in more activities?! Should they be doing some kind of summer fitness conditioning camp, or cross-fit for kids?! Should I require that they enter more exhibits into the county fair this summer, instead of their current plan to each only enter art projects!?
But wait! Maybe my kids aren't having ENOUGH of a low-key summer. Maybe I shouldn't make them work on math every single day at home?! (My husband about died when I mentioned that maybe they should still do math on the 4th of July holiday.) Maybe forcing them to write in a journal every day is failing to instill a love of writing in them and I should just stop this requirement!? Maybe I should truly let them do NOTHING this summer and see what happens?!
But the thing is, my kids are wonderful. They are both funny and creative and quirky, and created by God to be like no one else on earth. And they are wonderful because of their personality and spirit - not because of what activities they do, or fail to do. They are loved regardless of how they choose to spend their free time. They are truly beautiful, inside and out. And my hope for them is that this summer brings them inner joy - regardless of how they may compare to others.
