Before I had a child, I had no idea about the fierce competition that mothers engage in. As far as I'm concerned, I consider it progress when my kid is still wearing both shoes at the end of a shopping trip. But some mothers view every developmental step as a sign that their child is gifted. They say things like, "My child is only two months old and already has his first tooth. He is so advanced". Next thing you know, they're filling out a Harvard application before the kid even learns to stop peeing his pants.
Unfortunately, even some kids who learn to walk at the tender age of six months end up being dumb as posts. It would be horribly embarrassing to have bragged so heartily during the first few years only to discover later on that your kid needs to be in the remedial math class. So, I have decided to wait until grade school to throw my daughter's hat in the ring. By then I should know whether to engage or withdraw when the other parents begin the "my kid is smarter than yours" discussion. For now, I'll just continue to praise my toddler for her excellent nose picking skills and her ability to sense the presence and location of a permanent marker from a hundred yards away.
