Stomping on Success

It seems that though I call this theMOMblahblahblog I really don't talk that often about motherhood. I have been trying to think of why that might be. Really, I have fantastic and funny kids that are smart, super cute and fairly well behaved. They do drive me totally crazy about every other day and they fight more than I would like but over all they are wonderful. I think that's why I don't blog about them. Wait, this will make sense.

The other day my daughter told me she is the only one in her class that uses the green bin for reading. I asked her to explain this because usually these thoughts come out of no where for her and I am thinking of something completely different (a trait she get from me I'm sure, just ask their father). She then told me that for home reading she had her review with the teacher and is not able to pick from the more advanced bin of books. She is the only one in the class that has been moved up to more difficult reading. And here I've been thinking she's slacking off by being able to look at the pictures and guess the words. I regularly cover the pictures so she isn't allowed to use them as reference. This is most likely a factor in her progress. When she told me about this accomplishment I was pleased with her for the work she's been doing and her excitement about reading (it's always been something I've loved) but as soon as I praised her for how well she's been doing I told her "Make sure you aren't bragging about it to the other kids in the class though. You don't want them to feel bad." My initial reaction to my daughter is to cover her success! In an effort to not be prideful and conceited I am telling her to belittle her accomplishments! That's when I realized that's what I do too. I don't mention what I'm good at because I think people will automatically think I'm arrogant. I don't, for the most part, talk about my successes because I wouldn't want to seem pretentious.

So, I think this is why I don't talk very often about my kids. They are amazing kids and I'm proud of them so I try not to rub in how lucky I've been. I only talk about the problems and the struggles. The frustrations and worries. I'm starting to see now that there isn't anything wrong with being pleased about them and celebrating their (even my) victories. I can feel a change in the works for me and hopefully I will be able to find a balance with myself and them that is happy in accomplishments but not disrespectful of others that might struggle in these same areas.

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