My Kid Isnt Broken. Your Expectations Are.

Ever sat in a parent-teacher meeting and walked out feeling like you were the one who failed the exam?

I have.

And it stings in a way no report card ever could.

This is a little something I wrote when the weight of judgment—especially from teachers who didn’t truly know my child—got too heavy to carry quietly.

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“My Kid Isn’t Broken. Your Expectations Are.”

"Is he always this hyper?"

"She should really be reading by now."

"You need to be more strict."

If you're a parent, chances are you've heard some version of this—often from other parents, and sometimes from the very teachers who are supposed to help your child thrive.

We live in a world where children are expected to sit still, speak only when spoken to, color within the lines, and score within the top percentile.

But here’s the truth no one tells you: not every child is made to fit that mold—and that’s okay.

Some kids are loud.

Some kids daydream.

Some fidget, some ask “why” too many times, and some just don’t care about gold stars.

And guess what? That doesn’t mean they’re undisciplined, spoiled, or broken. It just means they’re kids.

As a parent, nothing hurts more than watching your child be measured against someone else's definition of “perfect.” Especially when those judgments come from educators or parents who only see them for a few hours a day—not the beautiful, messy, growing human you raise every single day.

We’re not raising robots. We’re raising real people—with creativity, quirks, flaws, and fire.

So here’s to the parents who show up every day—tired, judged, and still doing their best.

Your child doesn’t need to fit into every classroom.

They need to be seen, heard, and accepted—exactly as they are.

Let’s stop asking, “What’s wrong with this child?”

And start asking, “What does this child need to thrive?”

Because when we shift that question, we stop fixing kids—and start fixing the system.

Tricia Ann Miranda
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Apr 14, 2025

Comments

Anonymous

Arundhati Swamy Jul 29, 2025

Well said, Tricia. Agree with you wholeheartedly that kids are not meant to be fixed. Your story reiterates the need for training teachers in social and emotional learning. Only then will they be empowered to support children and their learning. And it's heartening to see how supportive you are of your child and that you believe in her, no matter what.

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