Words of Wisdom From People Smarter Than Me

"Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence"
-Robert Frost

The Problem with Perfect

Why do people try to impress each other?  I may be a freak, but I have never understood this urge.

When I look at some Facebook posts, its like looking at a glossy magazine version of life.  It looks perfect!  Since we know we are all human, what is the point of trying to make yourself look as if you have no troubles and are something other than what you are... what you actually are is more than enough.

When I run into some old friends or public schooling parents, they often have a packaged statement ready to go about their child's recent "accomplishments".

From the outside, it sounds as if they are trying to impress others, to make sure their child sounds impressive.  I could be completely wrong, but sometimes it doesn't sound like they are proud of how wonderful their kids *are*, but as if they are checking of some invisible checklist of required accomplishments.

I happen to think their kids are pretty great just being themselves.  I would like to take some time to hear what they think.  But a few of these "impressors" can't seem to resist the perfection rant; whether it be about grades or sports or their children's charitable works.

When it comes from the heart, it is palpably real, exciting, and joyous; when it comes from a desire to impress, it just leaves me sad and bereft.  It sounds to me as if they are describing something external to their children.

I treasure my home educating friends because there is  NONE of that going on.
They are not competing with each other, and we have all seen that our children are perfectly imperfect and human!  I would love to hear what you think about how exactly all that nonsense just falls away when you choose a genuine life....

One of my all-time favorite bloggers is SouleMama.  I can't get enough of her blog, and when I was almost starting to believe she wasn't real (all that sewing, and bread-making, and Waldorfy unschooling - could it really be done?) she posted photos of her completely devastated kitchen.  If I could have hugged her through the internet I would've.

We are all real.  That is pretty impressive, don't you think?