I read an article the other day about “first world problems”. The writer of this article detailed a woman’s plight regarding her driveway. It was too narrow to accommodate her SUV and she was having a battle with the city because she was unable to park on the street (due to by-laws in her Ontario suburb). So, there you have it – an example of a typical problem that a resident in the first world might encounter.

I often get caught up in the minutiae of every day life and find myself obsessing over details that are really ridiculous if I put them in perspective. For example, the latest dilemma to dominate my brain-space is waiting to find out if my daughter will be selected to go to the public school of my choice. Any school in my neighbourhood will be acceptable and fine but I have my preferences. But as I obsess about this situation I have to remind myself that millions of children (and especially girls) in the world will not have the privilege of an education, period.

And then I take it one step further (of course). I think of the “problems” (and I use that term loosely) that my 5 year-old daughter has. She has the best life. She goes to art class, hangs out at the park, goes swimming, has play dates, eats gorgeous meals, takes trips to the aquarium, watches TV, etc. I often wish a “Freaky Friday” switch with her just to enjoy her carefree, amusement park-like life for just 1 day. But yet she still has things that plague her little mind, like where are her doll’s shoes? Why does her stuffed kitty-cat’s fur suddenly feel all worn out? Where are all the ladybugs in the backyard?

Yes, the problems of a young child living in the first world. It almost makes me smile, it is almost adorable.