Image: Flickr/Tom Carmony

“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away.” (Henry David Thoreau)

This may seem like common sense, but far too many parents overlook this obvious fact: Children are unique individuals who grow and mature at their own pace. We love to compare milestones and accomplishments of even the youngest of tots, and, with the plethora of “highlight reels” our friends post on Facebook, we can do so to our heart’s content.

But, truth be told, it rarely helps our hearts be content. Instead, it stirs up something strange inside of us, something unhealthy. If we’re honest, we usually compare our child with others to relieve our own anxiety. And yet doing so ends up creating even more anxiety!

Relax. Enjoy your child. Let him (or her) listen to their own drummer rather than the constant pounding of the pressure you put on them to measure up to their peers.