When a child is compared to another.... Options

[Mistress Bags]

I know I'm older and don't live with my mom, but this is something that always held me back as a child, and something that pisses me off to this day.

I hate it when a parent compares her child to somebody else's child. For example: "Ashley, why can't you make better grades? Mrs. Thompson's daughter Lily makes straight A's, and she's not remarkably smart. I don't think you're trying hard enough."

Or..

"Ashley, why can't you keep your room immaculate? Mrs. Thompson NEVER has to tell HER children to clean. You're such a bad child."

People make mistakes. Furthermore, children are not even close to perfect. They're growing into an individual. Instead of comparing their faults to another's strengths, why not be more understanding? If you want your child to make better grades or to clean his/her room more often, try to find a more positive way to do it.

Did anybody have to deal with this when growing up? How do you feel about it?

[*mona lisa*]

I hate it when that happens, and its almost always about grades. So what if there is this girl who is graduating high school with a 99.1 average and her name and photo is printed in a local newspaper? I'm happy for her. What my parents fail to realize is that there are many factors which contribute to that! I would be to blame for procrastinating and being lazy, but really, I don't like to be compared to complete strangers whom I know very little about.