Milestones
My Child Has Officially Outdone Me (And Probably Outwits Me, Too)
Every parent experiences that moment when their children begin to outshine them. For me, it recently happened when my son accomplished a physical feat that I couldn’t manage — and that’s not all.
By Sarah Langston
March 11, 2022
I was struggling to open a jar of gourmet nut butter (you know, the kind in a glass jar with a tricky metal lid) and was getting nowhere. To make matters worse, I had tweaked my neck, likely from something as mundane as carrying groceries or a brief “core strength” workout video. My 11-year-old son was munching on his breakfast while I wrestled with the stubborn jar, trying to keep my frustration in check.
It turns out that diminishing hand strength is a common issue for adults as they age. So yes, I am indeed losing my grip on life (just jars and containers, maybe).
“I can do it, Mom,” my son chimed in. He tapped the jar lid a few times with a butter knife — a technique his dad often employs but which failed me — and then twisted the lid with ease. I heard that satisfying pop. He had opened the jar with hardly any effort! “Here you go,” he said, handing the open jar to me with a grin.
In that moment, I understood how my mom must have felt when my sister and I figured out the complexities of new technology, like the VCR. But now? My son is officially stronger than me. Not to mention quicker — he could outrun me even as a toddler (though, to be fair, I am pretty slow). There’s a local guy who plays in the NFL, and my son once outran him at a community track event.
When it comes to tech skills, he’s ahead of me too. He’s currently diving into coding in his technology class and can navigate our complex television setup, which requires three different remote controls.
He might even have a better sense of humor than I do. When I excitedly cracked jokes about my new egg cooker being egg-cellent and egg-citing, he quipped, “Mom, you need to egg-spand your repertoire of egg jokes.” Ouch!
In math, he’s definitely got the upper hand, and I suspect he’s smarter overall. Recently, while discussing current events, I was blown away by his knowledge of history and recent happenings. “I read about the fall of the Berlin Wall in a book,” he told me. He’s even considering joining a stock club at school where they “pretend” to invest in the stock market — honestly, I might just trust his choices if he decides to invest for real.
Every parent eventually arrives at this point where they witness their children surpass them in various ways. It’s a natural part of life. As parents, we wish for our children to find happiness and success — whatever that means to them — often hoping they will achieve more than we did, whether it’s tackling global warming or figuring out how we can all work four-day weeks with decent pay.
I genuinely want my son to outdo me in as many ways as possible.
Regarding my struggle with jars? While shopping recently, my son spotted something called the “Mighty Gripper,” a rubbery pad designed to help open stubborn lids. “Get a grip!” the package boasted.
“That looks like something you could use, Mom,” he joked. And you know what? He’s right; I do need to get a grip.
The four-pack of Mighty Grippers was just a few dollars, so I bought it. Now, with the help of the Mighty Gripper, I’m opening jars left and right. But I know that if I ever encounter a jar I can’t manage, even with the Mighty Gripper at my side, I can always turn to my son for assistance.
As the years go by, I suppose I should get used to seeking his help instead of the other way around. Time flies, and soon enough, I’ll be asking him to operate the teleportation machine for me at the senior living facility because I won’t have a clue how to navigate that futuristic technology.
But I bet he still won’t know how to set a VCR to record a TV show — okay, I never really figured that one out either. But hey, there’s still hope, right?
Sarah Langston is the author of the humorous book Why Do I Need Venmo? I’m Years Old. Her work has been featured in various publications, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Real Simple. She resides in New York with her husband, son, and dog.
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In summary, every parent eventually reaches a point where their children begin to excel in ways they never imagined. Embracing this transition is crucial, as it signifies growth and the natural order of life. Through humor and personal anecdotes, we witness the joy and pride that comes with seeing our children surpass us.