Parenting
Living a life of constant goodness became increasingly unsustainable for me. Eventually, I felt the strain of always being the model student. While I wasn’t tempted by illicit substances—thanks to my free-spirited parents who suggested I could try anything as long as they were present—I did feel the urge to shake things up in a different way.
In high school, I found myself surrounded by a sea of high-achieving peers. Faced with the option of either outdoing everyone in my goodness or daring to be just a little less compliant, I chose the latter. The alternative meant pouring hours into community service and joining clubs with names that looked impressive on college applications but didn’t excite me. The challenge of being less than perfect was far more appealing.
One fateful night in ninth grade, I neglected my English homework. Overloaded with extracurricular commitments, I fell asleep before getting to Hamlet. The next day, our teacher collected assignments, and in a moment of desperation, I asked my well-behaved friend, Mia, to let me copy her work. I could see the struggle in her eyes—should she uphold the rules or help a friend? She chose to help, and I hastily paraphrased her answers just in time to submit mine.
Imagine my shock when I discovered that our homework would be graded! Then came the twist: I received a higher mark than Mia. Even in my moment of mischief, I found myself excelling. It was a strange lesson—managing to break the rules without facing consequences and even coming out on top. Sure, I felt a bit smug, but that victory was hollow. While I could cheat my way through homework, some things would always elude me. Subjects like physics and returning phone calls were never my strong suit. Yet, those imperfections didn’t define me; they simply added some flair to the narrative of my life.
As I navigate motherhood with my own ambitious daughter, I want to encourage her to be her best self. However, I also want her to understand that sometimes it’s okay just to be average. If she feels the pull of a little rebellion and it’s safe, she should feel free to experiment with her boundaries. Just make sure she’s really, really good at it!
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Summary
This article reflects on the pressures of maintaining perfection in childhood and the desire to break free from those constraints. It highlights the paradox of mischief and success while encouraging a balanced approach to parenting that allows for both excellence and the exploration of boundaries.