Competitive Mom

Today, Matt and I took Miya for gifted and talented testing. We went to a local elementary school for the test at 9:00 am. I could tell that the parents were uptight about the test. They were asking the assistant principal many questions about the exam. I was thinking, "take a chill pill, these kids are only four years old."

My ugly competitive head emerged when Miya came out first from the exam. She finished first...what does that mean? The examiner is not allowed to tell us how the exam went or how she did. We find out the results in May. On the way home, I started asking Miya questions such as, "Was it difficult? What did she ask you? Was it hard for you? Why did you finish early?" Miya, my little comedian, responded with wacky answers that gave me no information.

After thinking about it, I was ashamed of my competitive behavior. I am grateful for my daughter, no matter how she does in the exam, she is a gem to me. Taking my son, Miles, to a gifted and talented exam may not have been a possibility if he survived. Due to his prematurity, there was a large possibility that he could have developed cerebral palsy. We love our children, no matter what label is put on them. We just want them to be safe and happy.