Cracking Down on the Comparison Game

My son is into the green guys - Yoda and the Hulk. The physical points of comparison are obvious. And, yet, I think he likes these super figures for what they individually can do. Unique in their own right, these fictional characters offer a lesson that my son and equally his dad can learn: comparing our self against another comes from what we can initially see -and, what we can see with the naked eye can certainly fool us.

My eight year old is a fantastic basketball player for his age and also his height. He knows and loves the game more than I ever did at his age. His fascination with the skill and height of the show continues to grow. And, his size bothers him. Even though he's the point guard on the league team, he compares himself against the taller boys, making the assumption that they are better players because of their bigger size. Then comes "the talk"... He's heard it before and will hear it again as he brings up this subject of comparison: You can do what others can't. You need your team and your team needs you. Stay focused on what you can contribute. OK...I admit, it sounds a like deep for a third-grader. But, he gets it, at least for the moment. It's amazing how often we need to be reminded of this "talk" at our age.