by Yvonne Strachan

I set fruit on the table and put watercolors out for art class. Soon, all of us moms were admiring the ways our children painted their unique perspectives of the fruit in front of them.

Then it happened — a toddler had an accident. The conversation shifted as moms discussed different potty-training methods. It was not long before I noticed tears pooling up in one mom’s eyes. “Why is it that everyone else seems to have it together? Yet, here I am, often feeling like I can barely make it through the day. What am I doing wrong?”

We all knew this feeling of inadequacy — perhaps a little too well. Desperate to provide comfort, I quoted Teddy Roosevelt: “Comparison is the thief of joy.” From the look on that mom’s face, I knew that my feeble attempt to comfort her did not help.

The Irony of Comparison

I glanced at my daughter’s paper sitting on my counter, knowing I would need to critique it after everyone left. How ironic! It happened to be a compare-contrast essay. I contemplated why we teach our kids to write impactful essays like this when culture tells us to comfort each other after noticing our differences. Why is comparison favorable in one situation yet awful in another?

As you continue reading, you will learn how to navigate the complexities of comparison and how to break free from its trap.

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