So let me start by saying I am not that Mom.  You know the one I am talking about.  The overbooker, the overachiever.  The panicked look on her face if she thinks her kids aren?t doing something the other kids are.

I am not that Mom.

So I was at a PTA breakfast the other morning and they had about five kids individually performing.

One child danced, one child sang.  Then the kid that really got me was the piano player.  She was amazing.  Must have been in fifth grade.  Her music sounded professional and beautiful.

I smiled, turned to my friend, ?Wow, she is great?  then I started to sweat.  I was sweating beads of envy.  It was like ?she has a cabbage patch doll and I don?t all over again.? This kid was great.  Her parents should be proud.  They invested time and money into her lessons and it has truly paid off.

I began to think.  Should my kids be playing an instrument? Should they have one thing that they are really great at, and am I the worst mom in the world for never promoting that?

Don?t get me wrong.  My kids are great.  They are hysterically funny, loving, sweet, well -rounded kids.

But should they play the harp?

Panicked, I spoke to my friend about it.  ?How are they going to get into college if they don?t have that something special?  Should I have signed them up for lessons when they were younger? ?

She calmed me down and said something perfect.  She said, ?You are not that Mom.  Your kids are doing great.  They play sports, they dance, they go to the park, do well in school.  They are happy.?

And she was right.  I have to keep my eye on the prize.  They are happy.   I am happy.  They are fulfilled. I feel like my old self again.

Of course I will support my kids in any endeavors they want to pursue.  I will do this for them, not to satisfy me.

I am just going to stay away from any more PTA breakfasts.

Jen Ross Author, “Don’t Wear Sweats Or Your Husband Will Leave You”