A BIG lesson is conveyed through the captivating children's book, Mila's Moment: The BIG Mistake. It was created to bring awareness to the topic of comparison, which affects both children's and adults' lives. The author uses the most captivating storytelling technique to sow the seed of practicing self-love and acceptance of who you are.

As humans, it's common for us to compare ourselves to our peers, siblings, family, friends, and even our caregivers. Which often leads to feeling pressured to match or surpass their achievements. This comparison can start with losing in a game or sport and extend to reasons such as physical attributes, academic performance, or reaching milestones.

Nevertheless, it's essential to acknowledge that the individuals you are measuring yourself against may be in completely different life stages than you are, and comparisons may not be relevant. Just because someone appears to be more successful than you, doesn't necessarily mean they are. Even if they are, it doesn't diminish your worth because you haven't reached your goals yet. It's perfectly fine to cheer for them from the sidelines, offer support, and let their achievements motivate and inspire you.

The same principle applies to your caregivers/parents. You may feel inclined to follow the same career path as them to achieve success in life. But remember, their aspirations and endeavors are theirs alone. You have your own path to forge. If you are genuinely motivated to walk in their footsteps, that's wonderful. However, avoid shaping your life around dreams that are not your own, and belittling yourself by comparing your worth to someone else's standards. Each of our stories are one-of-a-kind. Sometimes it may seem like you're falling behind, but in truth, you are simply at the beginning stages of your journey, steadily moving towards your personal version of success; you haven't reached your peak just yet. Ultimately, you'll discover that true fulfillment comes from embracing your own identity. While it's good to strive for self-improvement and growth, remember to do it at your own pace, not based on others' timelines.

That’s why the lesson within the book is to teach children to love, appreciate, and value who they are, instead of comparing themselves to others. Even as adults, we all fall victim to measuring our success with those around us, in our newsfeeds and our social circles. So, in my eyes, the message of the book is for any and everyone who wants to read it. Recognizing that we all have our own path and pace is fundamental. What’s for you will be and is not to be compared to others, that will only rob you of your happiness and contentment. 

We hope all will get the chance to read Mila’s Moment: The BIG Mistake, and embrace the grandest gift we have in this life – being the best version of YOU.