There is no place to compare our children to others. Not to others in our household, not to others in school – because there is not one child out there like another. They love different things at different times, they learn things at different speeds. Their minds are so busy with taking in every bit of information, categorizing it, filing it, re-filing it and this is a never ending process. WE CAN encourage and lead by example… and we can accept that some children will learn information in different ways. Finding what they excel in and celebrating that can give them encouragement to work on some of the things that they maybe aren’t learning as quickly. Every child has something that can be celebrated… find that in your child.
Today, start a list… by listening. For a week keep a piece of paper on your counter and start writing down things that your child says, what interests them and make a collection of who your child is right now. Do this yearly, monthly, however often you can and put it with a photo when you are done. This is the most amazing memory book you can ever assemble – it allows you to see who your child is – a snapshot of their personality. Then take a day and celebrate all the things that make your child amazing and unique.
Jeanine Thurston 