LMKTM: Kids Are Like Snowflakes

I’ve had a parenting realization lately that I think will free a lot of you up like it did for me:

My child is unique and can never be compared intellectually, physically, or spiritually to any other child.

It’s not about getting my child to do x like y. It’s about finding the strengths that are already there and pulling them out of him or her in a way that makes them shine!

My oldest son is so organized, neat, and perfection-driven, that his teacher has to tell him to not worry about making things too perfect and just remember to play. My middle child is all fun and charm, but at 4 years of age, his attempts at handwriting are hieroglyphic at best. Ella, my baby, is a great night sleeper but her afternoon nap consistency is almost non-existent.

And you know what?

All of my kids are great just as they are. It wouldn’t be fair to compare them to one another. Even further unfair would be to try to compare them to Facebook statuses of my friends who are talking about their children’s latest accomplishments. That’s not successful parenting! Instead, I’ll find so much more satisfaction if I take the time to find out what my child’s strengths and weaknesses are, and to work with him or her individually to be the best they can be.

Parenting is not textbook. There’s no one thing that will work for every child. There’s no one learning strategy that will appeal to each one. There’s no one disciplinary action that will similarly impact them all. They are individual and they can shine as such if I just remember to treat them that way. Let’s ask God to show us specific ways of parenting that are individual to each of our children. Just like snowflakes, no two kids are exactly alike, so why would I treat them all the same? Today, I hope to help all 3 of my kids to shine – each in their own way!