Stage Parenting

Parents are more competitive these days. Kids are put under a lot of pressure to excel early into their childhood. I see parents who endlessly boast of their child’s achievements and make shameless comparisons so they can put their kid on a pedestal. “Look! My kid has learned to walk before his 1st birthday” or “Oh, my kid is more behaved than her”. That kind of thing. The competition is cutthroat among the adults in making sure their child is THE best. While I perfectly understand that some parents are really just happy and proud, sometimes it can be a bit too much. I am a proud parent myself but I am not the type who would openly talk about my kid’s accomplishments unless asked. I would rather let my kid shine on his own without forcing him to “perform”. As much as possible I also stop myself from doing comparisons since a child’s growth and development vary and will ultimately depend on the child. When parents announce their kid’s achievements, I restrain myself not to outcompete them even if it is true. I just agree and let them indulge.

I am making a mental note to myself that I will do the more relaxed type of parenting. Chill parenting as they call it. I will not (and refuse) to be a stage parent. If my kid decides to throw a tantrum in front of everybody or if he decides to run around and not sit still, then so be it. He is a KID after all. I do not need to rush things and make him the perfect model child. Who is anyway? There will be a right time for everything—he will eventually learn, just not now.