Fairness. It’s the glue that ties siblings together, often leading to epic battles over seemingly trivial matters. I can hardly stand the word, yet my kids discuss fairness like it’s an Olympic sport.
“She has more ice cream than me! It’s not fair!”
“He’s one millimeter closer to the middle of the couch — that’s so unfair!”
“Wait, she might be having more fun than me right now, and that just doesn’t seem fair!”
From ice cream scoops to iPad placements, my children have somehow developed the notion that life should be perfectly balanced. Honestly, I don’t remember teaching them this. I’ve never sat them down and proclaimed, “Kids, everything in life will be equal, right down to the drops of water in your cups!”
So, in the effort to avoid raising self-centered individuals, we’re on a mission to teach them that life isn’t fair. They won’t find fairness in school, at work, or in relationships, and we want them to be prepared for the curveballs that life will throw at them.
Here are 10 examples of how life is going to be anything but fair:
- Some students who slack off will still get better grades. Yes, sometimes that will be them. They’ll watch kids who don’t lift a finger snag straight A’s while they struggle. It’s harsh, but that’s life.
- They will lose when they think they should have won. It will sting, but if we help them face these unfair moments early on, they might be more willing to get back up and try again.
- There will be people who simply won’t like them. No matter how nice or hardworking they are, some folks will just think they’re not their cup of tea. They’ll need to learn to move on.
- They won’t always fit in. They might want to join a certain group or team and find themselves left out. This will happen, and I promise, they will survive.
- Jobs will sometimes go to people who don’t deserve them. It’s frustrating, but it’s a part of life’s unpredictable unfairness.
- Bullies may occasionally get the upper hand. But hey, we can always vote to change things up, right?
- They will inevitably get sick right when vacation begins. At least once, it’s a guarantee.
- Their hearts will break, often by someone who isn’t worth their time.
- They will give it their all and still fall short. If they’re living life to the fullest, this will happen again and again.
- And yes, their sibling might just get more chocolate syrup on their ice cream.
We want our kids to know that life will sometimes knock them down, and it’s going to feel incredibly unfair. By preparing them for these challenges, they’ll be ready to take on whatever unfairness comes their way, without expecting us to fix every little issue. Because honestly, I can barely manage the Cheerios situation around here.
For more insights on navigating the complexities of parenting, check out this post on intracervical insemination. If you’re looking into home insemination methods, Make a Mom is a great resource. And for those expecting, the March of Dimes offers excellent information on pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, teaching kids that life isn’t always fair is crucial in raising considerate and resilient individuals. By preparing them for the challenges ahead, we can help them grow into well-rounded adults.