I hate myself for constantly comparing my two children
13:29 JST, February 11, 2022
Dear Troubleshooter:
I’m a part-time worker in my 30s, and I’m filled with self-loathing because I can’t stop comparing my two children.
I have a daughter in her first year of elementary school and a younger son. My son is academically accomplished as he could read and write hiragana and katakana by the age of 2. He is now into mentally challenging games such as shogi. I am proud of my son, who is often praised by others.
My daughter, on the other hand, doesn’t have any particular strengths. She watches television whenever she has free time. I get frustrated, wondering why my daughter can’t do what my son can. I know I shouldn’t compare the children, but I can’t help but say to her, “Why can’t you do things like your brother does?” I hate myself for saying it.
It may be my selfish belief that my daughter can’t do anything well. She is a pure-hearted and gentle person. She loves her family, and my son loves her. What should I do?
—C, Saitama Prefecture
Dear Ms. C:
We all compare ourselves with others. Unless you have solid self-esteem, however, you can either suffer from a sense of inferiority or be filled with a misguided feeling of superiority. Furthermore, I believe the damage done to children who grow up being compared with their siblings on a daily basis based on their parents’ one-sided standards is quite serious.
At least you are aware that you are hurting your daughter, and you also recognize her good qualities. You must have felt quite frustrated because you are too focused on your son’s excellence.
Actually, I am more concerned about your son. I’m worried that he will continue to shoulder the burden of your expectations and lose his pleasant characteristics. I’m worried that he will stress himself out in trying to meet his parents’ expectations.
You are obsessed with comparing your children because you are too concerned about what others think. To put it bluntly, I think that shows your own lack of self-confidence.
Before you “boast” of your son to others, you should reflect on yourself. By thinking of your many shortcomings, perhaps you may learn to be more tolerant of your children’s inadequacies. And, of course, you can truly appreciate the excellence of your children. This is my message to you with the intention of including some self-discipline.
—Masami Ohinata, university president
"Features" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Cherry Blossoms Draw Crowd to Tokyo’s Ueno Park; Viewing Season Kicks Off to Slow Start
-
Famous Weeping Cherry Tree in Full Blossom in Fukushima Pref. Town
-
Furano Increasingly Becoming the Cool Place to Be for Foreign Skiers; International Visitors Drawn to Powder Snow
-
Traditional Japanese Knife Store in Tokyo’s Ningyocho District Dates to Edo Period
-
Tokyo Station’s Reconstructed Domes Bring Back Prestigious Tradition; Station Building Hotel Loved by Literary Giants
JN ACCESS RANKING
- M6.0 Earthquake Hits Japan’s Tohoku Region; Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi Prefectures Observe 4 on Japanese Scale With No Risk of Tsunami
- Cherry Blossoms Draw Crowd to Tokyo’s Ueno Park; Viewing Season Kicks Off to Slow Start
- China Mutes Memorialization of Reformer Hu Yaobang; Memories Could Spark Critique of Xi Administration
- Shinkansen Services Suspended After Man ‘Searches for Phone’ on Tracks; Disruption Affects About 14,000 Passengers
- Whaling Mother Ship Built in Japan for 1st Time in 73 Years