“And self-confidence comes from experiencing one’s own competence…not from that ridiculous “A for Everyone” affirmation, but from a deep sense of one’s own abilities.” – I completely AGREE!! Do not compare your children with others.

... but sometimes it’s hard to know whether you’re on the right track or not, when you’re in the thick of it (so to speak). You know what I wish every parent had – a mentor! Someone you can say, ‘my daughter is behaving like this’, and for them to say either you need to do something about that, or maybe just accept it cos it’s just a phase and will pass. I hope when my kids are almost grown up like yours, I can say the same as you. I suspect that I will.