I won't go into the differences we all have in parenting styles, I just want to touch on the issue of bragging.
When do you consider what another parent says about their kids to be bragging? Why is this on my mind? Well, I've gotten some amazing news over the last few weeks and I am so unbelievably proud of Caroline!!!
And as sad as it is, I feel like I can't share it. As a friend, I don't want to make my friends who have kids the same age feel like its a competition. And this may seem really silly to some of you, but be honest here...we all know those parents who constantly talk up there kids to the point that its annoying. And I'm not saying they shouldn't be proud or that they shouldn't talk about it. But, I don't want to be that parent, who is annoying and over the top with all their kids accomplishments.
I just want to be proud of my kid and share how proud I am. She's pretty amazing :)
I think what makes this hard for me is that we all know kids are very different. They all have strengths and weaknesses. They all excel in different areas. I never want to be a parent who boasts and makes another parent feel badly about what their child is doing.
Caroline is very bright and bubbly and not shy. Which is all wonderful. But, she has downfalls just like other kids. Some people don't consider ADHD a downfall, they think it's a crutch for bad behavior, an excuse. Well, I hate to break the mold, but she is amazing. She's not "bad", she just can't sit still. But all that is beside the point...
People look at her and think what a spunky bright little girl, and because of that, I feel like I can't beam with pride and tell everyone how bright she is, what she achieved. I have very dear friends who have kids that struggle academically and/or socially. I can.not stand the thought of making them feel bad when I talk about Caroline.
So I don't post on FB about it like my friends, I don't call a friend to share my news. I just sit here with my hubby and we smile and talk about how proud we are.
How do you beam with pride for your kids? How do you boast when they've broken the record? When they've done an amazing job?