Comparisons

I mentioned in a previous post that a good friend told me that COMPARING IS THE THEIF OF JOY. I want to expound on that.

I saw a dumb magazine with a photo (very airbrushed I’m sure) of Kim Kardashian in a bikini on the cover. She looked great! But… it’s difficult to see stuff like that as a woman (and I don’t speak for everyone), and not think, “How did that happen? I still barely fit into my first round of maternity clothes!”

Also, there’s that picture floating around with the petite hottie with a body mommy with three kids that says, “What’s your excuse?” Well, that just inspires the crap outta me…NOT. Come to find out this ‘hot mama’ is a fitness trainer. So, my excuses are;

1.     I have a sitter to go to work not to exercise.

2.     I work at an elementary school, not a gym.

3.     I can’t afford a gym membership and I don’t have time to take away from the babies to go anyway.

4.     When those angels magically nap at the same time every few days, there are 16 bottles to wash, a dishwasher to empty and refill, dinner to be made and eaten, 9 loads of laundry to wash, a house to clean, and a mommy who desperately wants a shower… but let’s face it, that magical simultaneous napping only lasts about 20 minutes.

Then I watch the news and see Kate Middleton playing volleyball in heels and what do you know… her shirt blows up and you get a glimpse at her postpartum six-pack.  She is princess, or dutchess or whatever. Of course she looks amazing.

 I’ve realized that Kim Kardashian might look amazing months after a baby, and this trainer mom is gorgeous with three little kids running around, and Kate Middleton can be sporty and glam with Prince George at home, BUT I’m not them.  I’m not a celebrity that gets paid to look good. I’m not a fitness trainer who gets paid to work at a gym.  I’m not royalty with nannies and maids and duties like hanging out with volleyball teams.

Their job is to look good! I’m a teacher. If I posted a picture of my Praxis scores, it would mean nothing to you (I don’t really know what they mean either).  If I posted photos of my classroom, women all over facebook wouldn’t think to themselves, “I wish I was like her and had a classroom like that!” So, why do we (or maybe it’s just me) judge ourselves based on other women whose bodies have absolutely nothing to do with us? Because that is what we do…  But, we don’t have to.

The Word says that we are made in the image of God, and I KNOW he is perfect (Genesis 1:26).  That doesn’t mean that we are all supposed to look alike either. Every one is different and we have different abilities and strengths and a unique purpose.  We can’t judge ourselves based on someone else’s strengths or purpose. We need to stay focused on God’s plan for each one of us (Jeremiah 29:11).

I can already see that Georgia and Olive are unique and have their own special personalities.  Georgia is the thinker and the talker.  She examines and carefully touches everything, trying to figure it out.  She jibber jabbers and laughs at the number 8 every time the number cartoon comes on.  She is dainty and has a bit of a temper. She doesn’t seem to care about learning to sit up.  She just lays down and enjoys watching Olive struggle.  Olive, on the other hand, is the doer. She is active and wants so badly to sit, crawl, stand, anything but lay down.  She is built a little bit like a football player (or maybe she’ll play rugby one day!) She doesn’t ‘talk’ much, but she does a lot grunting and squealing.  She is pretty laid back easy going, as long as she gets her naps.  The girl is a napper.

I want them to always be like this, unique and special, loving each other for being a little different.  I don’t want them to ever compare themselves to one another, or to anyone else.  I realize that they are going to learn from me, so this comparing stuff stops now. 

The end.