What I'd Say to You

Tomorrow is the first day of school for most of the kids around here, including my own #AmazingAmazon, Chloe. Some of the anxiety has already begun, though. Actually, some of it started the first week of August. Will I have lunch with any of my friends? Will I like my classes and teachers? Will it be a good school year? What if I don't have any friends?

So for all the kids who will be starting school (or already have, yikes), I have some things I want to say to you. Things I'd say if you were my child. You see, I know you don't listen to your parents sometimes. I know that because my kids don't always listen to me. And, um, I didn't always listen to my parents. It goes something like this: You're my mom/dad. You have to say I'm smart/handsome/funny/pretty/talented.

Right? Come on, you know you've said that.

So, in no particular order, here is what I'd say to you if you were my child.

Stop comparing yourself to others. There is always going to be someone who is prettier than you. There will always be a better athlete. Someone in your class is going to be smarter than you. Better skin, better hair, bigger muscles, better at singing, basketball, football, painting, WHATEVER! So the way I see it, you have two choices. You choose to let the knowledge that you may not be the best, prettiest, strongest drag you down so low that you just quit. Or you choose to go ahead and do your very best at whatever it is you want to be the best at. And then you stop worrying about it.

Don't worry about what other people think. So many reasons behind this statement. First and foremost, because in ten years (or less!), most of the people you see every day at school won't matter to you. Really. Go ask your dad about his high school classmates. See how many of them he thinks about on a daily basis. See? I was right, wasn't I?

Another side of the Other People's Opinion coin is, who are you trying to impress? In my thoughts, and what I've tried to teach my kids, the One you need to impress most is God. After that, the only thing that should concern you with other people is, "Do they think I'm a person of good character?" Honesty, integrity, compassion, these things far outweigh the brand of jeans you wear or the kind of music you listen to or what neighborhood you live in (especially since you have no control over where your parents make you live).

So again, be the best person, the best human being you can be. And then stop worrying about what others think.

Stand up for your faith. If people give you a hard time about something you do (hello, church on Sunday night, really?) or don't do (oh, come on, there's nothing wrong with those shorts), your answer is short and simple. "I'm a Christian. I believe this is how God wants me to live." If they don't get it, not your problem. You stay true to your faith. And then you don't worry about them.

Stand up for yourself ... and others. Never, ever, ever let a bully go unchallenged. Sometimes, it only takes one person to stand up to a creep to give others the courage to stand up, too. You be that one. People will learn that you're the kind of person who will stand up for what's right, and they'll stand with you. And then you don't worry about the creeps of this world.

Choose to have a great year. Seek out people who are like you. Find people who encourage you to be the best person you can be in all things. Odds are good if you like them, they'll like you, too. Cultivate those friendships. And don't worry about people who don't like you, who try to make you feel small, who try to make you feel anything less than the great kid you are.

And finally, even though I'm your Mom, remember that you truly are a pretty amazing kid. Because I'm your Mom, and I say so.

So there you have it. What I'd say to you if you were my child. Have a great year.