If you find yourself measuring your child’s achievements against those of their friends, recognising your own insecurities is crucial to when it comes to breaking the cycle, writes Dr David Coleman Never worry about how your child is doing in comparison to others, instead offer them support where they need it. Photo: Getty Do you ever find yourself enviously looking at other people’s children who seem so well behaved, or appear successful in school or sports, or are popular among their peers? Theodore Roosevelt said “comparison is the thief of joy”, and yet, as a parent, it can feel almost impossible not to compare your family with others. Of course, we can never know what goes on behind closed doors in the privacy of other families’ lives, but the outward signs of a child who seems to have a charmed life can be hard to bear, especially when you are aware of your own, or your child’s, struggles in some areas.
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