To Brag or Not to Brag

My child is incredibly talented and intelligent. I've known right from the start, of course, but I've tried very hard to be humble. However, I receive this weekly update on babycenter that told me:

"Your toddler can probably hop off the bottom step of a staircase by throwing one foot forward and letting the other follow. But true jumping, where both feet leave the ground at the same time and then land squarely, is a skill that requires excellent balance and may take a few more months to master."

So I'm going to brag. My kid is so far ahead of the curve! Luke has been jumping with both feet off the ground for over a month already, and can jump solidly off the bottom step. After reading these updates that tell me what my child should and shouldn't be doing I am often exasperated with these "milestones" because they are so different for each child and we shouldn't judge all children with the same yardstick. But there's a yardstick and I can't help looking at it and my kid is at the top of his class!! I'm so proud!!!

Oh no. This could be very bad. What if I turn into one of those terrible proud parents who make their kids go to ballet, swimming, soccer, and after school math programs before they are even allowed a drink of water?! I don't want to be someone who lives vicariously through their children until their children figure out what's going on and move far FAR away. Luke has no idea the turmoil his brilliance causes inside me. He is a kid. Just as he should be. I want him to be a kid. Kids naturally love without using a yardstick, and I certainly don't want him to learn to love conditionally - by my own example. So I won't brag, and make TOO much of a big deal about his achievements. I won't tell everyone I know that my kid's a genius. I won't write a blog post that suggests "My kid's better than yours". I won't be one of those parents. But the fact is, my kid's jumping with both feet off the ground.

Hm. I guess the one who really needs to practice balance is me.