The girls are both becoming more self-aware. Middle school will do that to you. Why is everyone looking at me? Hint: they probably aren’t. They are worried why you are looking at them. It’s a navel-gazing comparison circle that is hard to escape. Some people never do.
I’m not sure I can teach the girls this, but it’s not going to stop me from preaching about it. Huffs, and puffs, and eye rolls be damned. How you compare to other people is far less important than how you compare to yourself. You are going to be happier and probably more successful by giving your best effort than somebody who is obsessed with only coming in first place or top of their class or who never seriously tries.
Now, I can say that, but getting a kid to understand their own potential and what seriously trying actually is might be another story.
No, it doesn’t always involved flash cards.
But that’s a good start!