Keeping up with the ...

I had casually noticed it before I was a mom, but as many things with motherhood, before I experienced it myself I felt unqualified to comment. There are many types of parents and parenting styles and thus, different children as a result. And now, having first hand experience, I get to comment. :) Here we go...

1. The Over-Achiever: These children and their parents could possibly just be put on the earth for the sole purpose of making us feel like failures with our children. These amazing tots can speak different languages, read well before the "appropriate" time, play instruments, even solve mathematical equations.
Of course, at Hudson's age, this more often takes the shape of comments such as, "what?! (insert smugness here) my son/daughter started doing -----(insert milestone here) at ---.". Yes, I was completely distraught that my son was not clapping in December and was ready to call in the specialists.

I do realize, however, that as a child I was one of these babies. Talking at only 3 months old and forming phrases and sentences long before I was able to act them out had to drive other parents crazy. I can almost hear it. "steer clear of the Gordons, we don't even want to hear what Nikki has done now!".

And parents, while I have had extensive experience and practical research experience in my undergrad studies in cognitive development, I understand some children just have a knack for learning particular things, but I do find it hard to believe that your two year old came to you wanting to learn the quadratic equation.

2. The Performers. Everyone knows these. These are the children that light up as if on stage when asked to perform their latest knowledge or milestone. Skillfully, they have perfected the craft of showing off, at which I was sure any child of Dan and I's would shine brilliantly.

Unfortunately, after feeling the awkward crickets of Hudson not performing on cue, and watching the desperate often failed attempts of other parents trying to do the same, I have abandoned this performance dream for now. (In Hudson's defense, he learned early on that his good looks and killer squinty-face-dimple smile get him just about anything he wants with pretty minimal effort.) Even still, I have learned such attempts are better left in the presence of grandparents. They wait interminably for said performance and respond with clapping and jubilation for any (even weak) attempt made. In other words, they make a much better audience.

3. Cool Tricks, Cool Tricks! (my fellow Yo Gabs out there will understand this reference better) This category is similar to The Performers but with a slightly different spin. These are much like pet tricks, or even stupid human tricks taught to our children to amuse and impress others. This is a popular category in the Barker house. Hudson has several "cool tricks,", but due to previously mentioned rationale, we typically don't ask him to perform them in public. If you're lucky though, you could very well get a shot of him showing his dance moves. Honestly, not sure where he learned to get down so low, but I'm impressed!

A friend on Facebook recently posed a question wondering if parents have reached a new level of competition. Since having Hudson, I have wondered the same thing. It seems everywhere I look I receive unsolicited parenting advice (even from odd women at the grocery store commenting on nursing if you remember) and unwanted comparisons to when their child achieved a milestone. However, with social media and the multitude of ways of posting, publishing, blogging, and sharing all that is our children, all of these forums have just given those of us who are proud and love our children free license to spread the word to anyone who will see, hear, or read about it. And for that, I am guilty. Very guilty. My heart erupts with pride when I look at my son and I love being able to share it with the world.

And so, in light of some of the seemingly annoying parental traits discussed, it seems only fair to cut ourselves some slack, perhaps spare our friends some needless performances, and enjoy our kiddos. Because it all boils down to how much we truly love them and want to share them and their accomplishments as our own. I can think of worse parental traits.