Dear Readers,

Last weekend I was at ShopRite doing the weekly grocery shopping and my son was acting out because he just dropped his beloved Thomas train. We were in the baby food aisle, selecting food for my 6-month-old daughter, Camille. As I was digging the train out of the cart, a woman came around the corner and half-smiled. She asked, “How old is he?” I answered, “two” with a tone in my voice that meant ‘the terrible twos…and he’s driving me nuts.’

She smiled and said, “Well my son is 11 months old, and I can’t get him to eat anything out of a jar.” I realized at that moment she thought I was buying baby food for my 2-year-old. What was she trying to say? That her son was better than mine in a not-so-obvious tone? “It’s for my 6-month-old,” I responded.

Why is it that moms constantly compare their children to others? I admit, I do this quite often. My niece walked, talked and pooped in the potty before my son, and he’s six weeks older than she is. I have also compared them many times, pointing out everything Kayden does better than she does. Kayden can run really fast and can climb the stairs all by himself, as if that mattered to anyone.

But now that I have a second child, I’ve tried not to compare my children to others. What does it matter that your child is in the 95th percentile for his weight and mine is in the 10th percentile? Does that mean my kid will end up homeless and yours will become a doctor? I don’t think so.

”Every child is different” has become my answer to all the moms who brag about how tall their child is, or how early they spoke. Kayden still doesn’t talk… and I’m not ashamed of that at all. It’s frustrating, but doesn’t make me feel like I am a horrible mom or that I somehow did something wrong.

It’s time we stop competing against each other and support each other. Being a mom is hard, and ALL moms have their insecurities. My child may not talk yet …but I bet my kid can whoop your kid! Hahahaha!

Your friend and fellow MOM,

Adrienne