Inspiration or Competition?

I know my son Ian is a competitive child. I knew it since day one. Nicky on the other hand never showed interest or that "talent." I know some people must think competitive children are the best. Well in my case I think we should always do the best we can just because we want to be better and not because we want to brag that we are better than somebody else.

A few days ago Glenn and I took the kids to

the neighbors' houses to give some treats. Nicky wanted to sing a song by herself so she did it. That night was just very Christmasy I guess since it was freezing. When we stopped at the Galloways place,Amanda was so nice that she let us get into her house so Nicky could sing inside instead of outside. Nicky was happy to do it like that. Then their oldest girl Taylin was so happy because she was now officially a big girl since she took a bath ALL BY HERSELF! We all told her that she was indeed a big girl and how proud we felt to have her as a friend. We finished the visit and kept going on with our lives.

Yesterday we were running late for the kids' picture appointment. I told Glenn that while I was showering the kids he could go and make a light breakfast for them. Well to my surprise Nicky refused to receive help. She told me she wanted to do it ALL BY HERSELF. So I let her do it. While I was pouring shampoo on Ian's head Nicky was doing the same and while I was foaming his body Nicky was doing the same too. She was just following me step by step. At the end I guess I saved like 10 minutes. Then Glenn came upstairs and wanted to help Nicky to dry and get ready. Nicky again refused it and wanted to do it all by herself. She was done and Glenn and I told her we were so proud of her that we weren't expecting her to do that until she was older. She answered us back with this sentence. "YEAH I'M A BIG GIRL TOO. NEXT TIME I SEE TAYLIN I'LL TELL HER THAT I CAN TAKE A BATH BY MYSELF TOO." Glenn and I looked at each other, then later talked about it. I told him that I was glad and impressed that she wanted to do it by herself. She is indeed growing up. But I wasn't expecting her to say she was doing it because of somebody else. Glenn told me that it is interesting since we had never mentioned that subject at home or anything like that. We had no idea. Then I realized how important being competitive has always been to Ian being behind as "the baby" (that's going to change very soon). He loves being at the same level as the older children, especially boys. He is always competing with Nicky in everything. Nicky never showed interest in this because she is always ahead of Ian, so why should she worry? Since she started pre-k she has been progressing in the language and other things, too. She has never mentioned, though, "OH I'M DOING IT BECAUSE SO-AND-SO CAN DO IT TOO." Now I get it. She has been talking about how she can't wait to be 5 because she is barely 4, and how big she is going to become when she turns 5 etc., etc. I'm assuming that she just barely noticed that Taylin is 5 and she is just 4 and wants to do what her friend can do? ... I don't know, I'm still trying to resolve this puzzle. One thing is for sure: Even though I never have liked competitive people, I'm so glad that Nicky wanted to do this. She can brush her teeth, put her clothes on, go potty, and bathe herself; and all this just right before I have another girl ... YAY for her and YIPPY for me! I just need to teach her how to pour cereal in her bowl and she is ready to survive in this house lol (J/K).