in praise of average

I have come to realize that most people think that they are pretty special.  If not them, they think their children are God's gift to the universe. Don't get me wrong. I love my children.  I think God has blessed me with the two most wonderful girls in the world, but is it wrong to embrace your childrens "averageness" ?

In our culture, American parents insist on their child competing with every other child in the classroom.  Most people begin this process of fine tuning their child's skills when they are babies, to develop a niche where their child is "the best".  This carries over into high school. My sister Heather is just beginning to get a taste of this.  She talked in her last post about how high school registration includes a life plan for a 15 year old kid. Gimme a break!  What kid has a life plan ready in the ninth grade?

What happened to just making your way through your adolesecence and enjoying life?  What happened to trying new things with no pressure to be the best. it?  Why can't my kids feel successful just getting through their high school years taking "normal' classes and hanging out with their friends?  Why do we feel it necessary for them to complete a year of college before they ever get there?

You know, average people are spectacular. Most average people I know are pretty well adjusted.  They don't have as many hang ups as those who "know they are special".  Average people work hard, they know that they have weaknesses they have to overcome.  Average people love their wives and kiss their children.  Average people are usually loyal, and faithful. They not be the smartest, the fastest or the funniest, but that they can be there.  They are the people that fill the pews year after year at your church, They show up and help out without special recognition.

I love average people, I'm married to one. I am one, and we've produced two beautiful average girls!