It is all too easy to be over-critical of a mundane vehicle and over-indulgent of a luxury model, which is why I always remind myself that we should respect each and every automobile that comes our way for what it is – regardless of brand, positioning, price tag and horsepower.
Not every car is meant to tackle corners, or possesses the dexterity to rival a parkour exponent; neither is every car a born sprinter. Some are made with comfort as their top priority, for instance, while others provide a no-frills option for budget-constrained consumers. I always believe that we get what we pay for, and we pay for the “car-racteristics” we value most. At the end of the day, comparisons between competing products have to be objective and the shopper’s expectations must be realistic.
The same philosophy applies to children. As parents, we should respect each child as a unique individual and appreciate him/her for all his/her virtues and shortcomings. However, this is easier said than done because parents, just like motoring journalists, are human after all, and humans are by nature predisposed to favouritism, prejudices and preconceived ideas.
It is even more challenging for parents with more than one child, I think. I sometimes put myself in the shoes of these mums and dads, and I imagine how difficult it must be for them to always try to be fair towards their brood and refrain from comparing one with the other, even if they love them all equally. I will not even begin to discuss how parents often compare their kids with their classmates, especially on exam results.
