How do you deal with other parent's competition for their children to be the brightest and best? Why is it that many mums (and dads!) get competitive when it comes to how well their children are doing academically.
We have two kids, one is a doctor and the other is a Cambridge educated lawyer. We supported our kids but they were far more ambitious than we ever were. They went to the local state comp.
My sister's kids went to an academic private school. One isn't going to go to university, and the other got in to Edinburgh. There have been a few comments about our kids only getting to where they are because universities like state school kids. Or that we were far too pushy on our kids.
A friend of mine from my university has one son. He was friendly with my kids growing up, and has now gone on to do a PhD at a local (low ranked) university on student loans. Our daughter did a post graduate law degree on an academic scholarship. Friend has made a few pointed comments that a PhD is the highest academic award, and that her son really is the most educated out of the kids.