When will I stop comparing!!!

Today, I lost my cool on my 7 year old again. While I went for a shower in the morning rush hours, I asked him to complete his breakfast and wear his shoes. His school van is expected in 20 minutes. After 15 minutes, the first sight that caught my eye as I stepped out of the bathroom was him looking out of the window towards the horizon lost in his dreams. The breakfast was lying on the table untouched. He hadn't worn his shoes. And, I burst. "See your classmate, Prakhar. He gets ready for school by himself. He packs his bag by himself. He eats whatever his mummy sends him in the tiffin and you..." This charade went on and on till he was packed off in the school van. Later, after peace descended on me, I wondered what got into me. Shakespeare called 'jealousy' as a green eyed monster, but for me this concept of 'comparison' is my red eyed monster. It eats up all my relationships and hurts all those who love me. It is my relationship pac-man. When I was a kid, the whine was like this, "Daddy, her father has bought her this pencil box with switches and buttons. Why don't you get me one?" "Mummy, his mother allows him to stay up late at night. Why not me?" Then, it turned to... "Mummy, you don't scold him (my brother!) for anything but you always scold me for everything. You love him more than you love me!" Slowly, it started extending towards others too... "Did you see how English ma'am smiled at her? She never smiles at me like that!" "He scored more marks than me. I'm sure he must have cheated." "She got a star in her record book. Her mother must have drawn it for her." Yes, it was getting nasty but the worst is yet to come...I turned a teenager! "Everyone has a cellphone. You have bought one for our driver too but you cannot get me one. I am the only one in my college who doesn't have one. I feel so ashamed!" "Oooh... her mother is so cool. She allows her to bunk college, go out for movies, date guys and you are so boring. You are antique!" Then I got married. "Her husband loves her so much. He agrees to whatever she says." "He has bought her a solitaire." "He surprised her with flowers for no reason at all!" If you analyse the above statements made to my husband, there are no crude comparisons made. I have now gained finesse in this 'comparison' game. The question is unsaid but it hovers in the background... "Why not you?" Now, this pathetic habit of mine is starting to engulf my kids too. "His book is so well maintained. Why not yours?" "Her handwriting is so beautiful but you..." "Why have you not got a star in your worksheet like others?" "Look at how other kids are interested in dance, music, sports! You are only interested in planting your bum on the couch opposite the television!" These statements look so bad now that I have written them. I promised myself that * I will hug my little one and apologise to him once he's back home from school today and * I will watch my words and thoughts to make sure I don't allow this monster to raise it's head again. I'll keep you posted on how well this goes. Wish me luck!