In this world today, parents are being criticized for…well…just about everything.
How we give birth. How we feed our children. How we watch them too closely. How we don’t watch them enough. How we give our children medicine. How we use essential oils. How we let them sleep in their own beds. How we co-sleep. How we aren’t hands on enough. How we are way too hands on and don’t give them enough space.
With everything going around the internet about “perfect parents” – it’s time to be real.
Moms and Dads around the world, in reality, do imperfect things DAILY to make it through each day.
In fact, I will be the first to tell you that my daughter dips her oranges in ranch. She sometimes sleeps in princess shoes. She knows how to work an iPad better than me and could spend her day away browsing surprise egg videos and Peppa Pig on YouTube Kids.
She’s not perfect and neither am I, and that’s a beautiful thing. A hard day. A bad choice. An annoying habit. Or even a crazy accident, doesn’t make you a bad parent.
Photos by pixabay.com
In a recent conversation with a group of moms – we rallied together to discuss the imperfect things moms do and realized that the imperfections in our parenting, actually resulted in a happy and more simple life.
Responses rolled in like…
1. I let my daughter watch her tablet more than she probably should, but sometimes it’s the only way I can have a few minutes to myself throughout the day. #survivalmode
2. I used to change the clocks on our kids, so they’d go to bed earlier!
3. I use suckers as a bribe at the grocery store.
4. My sons wake me up at 5:30am every morning, so I turn on cartoons and go back to bed for a bit.
5. My 3 year old always goes to bed after 10. AND I have to sleep in her bed.
6. I have a 10, 3 and 1 year old that I have forgotten to feed them lunch or dinner a few times a month. We’re big snackers.
7. I sometimes tell my boys if they don’t stay in bed the wolf will come and drag them away 😂 they don’t move an inch!
8. I let my little ones watch The Walking Dead and Jurassic World – They LOVE it! And sometimes I lose my temper and yell.
9. I take my kids on vacation during school days and tell my oldest not to tell his teacher where we were so his absences are excused.
10. If my girl is happy wrapping toilet paper around herself and her sister why do I care? 45 minutes that project took. If she is happy putting glue sticks all over her body to see if something will stick. Again, I don’t care. If she is happy it will wash off later.
To parents everywhere – aren’t we ALL imperfect?
Don’t we all make mistakes? Don’t we all have bad habits? Don’t we all do silly things that may not be considered “perfect” in other’s eyes – but they are perfect for us?
When long nights come – have ice cream for breakfast. When lazy days are needed – stay in your pajamas for 48 hours. When your house gets messy – make it messier and clean it up later.
To the mom who snuck into the bathroom and is pretending to poop so she can read this in peace – YOU are an imperfectly PERFECT parent. To the dad who is working long hours and is secretly hoping the kids are in bed by the time you get home so you can have some peace and quiet for a bit tonight – YOU are an imperfect PERFECT parent. To the mom who is letting her kids make a mess around the house while you watch an episode of your favorite TV show – YOU are an imperfect PERFECT parent.
As parents, we’re all trying our hardest. We’re all trying to do what is best for our children. We’re all trying to make the happiest memories and to raise functioning adults who can be kind to others, serve one another and not be quick to judge.
To the trolls on the internet – you may be an imperfect parent. To your neighbor next door – you may be an imperfect parent. Even to yourself – you may have moments of thinking you are an imperfect parent.
But maybe what makes us all perfect parents – is our imperfections. Because in the end, we are ALL absolutely imperfectly perfect.
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Danielle is the owner of Today's the Best Day. She strives to provide creative and uplifting content in order to enrich the parenting experience for women everywhere. Danielle hopes to help you and your family to make every day the best day! 
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Stefanie
July 10, 2016 at 2:31 am (8 years ago)I love it. Thanks for sharing.
Janice Tyler
July 6, 2016 at 6:14 pm (8 years ago)Thank you for sharing your opinion about perfect parents. I totally agree with you that all parents can’t be perfect. Actually, I think that it doesn’t matter how good you are to your kids, you can’t be called a perfect parent. I don’t think that there are parents who never scolded their children and always made them happy. I believe that most of parents want to be perfect parents and give children anything they want. But it’s not perfect parents; it’s just spoiling your children. I believe that it’s okay not to be perfect because there are no perfect people in this world. Instead of perfect parent you could be a good parent. We all could be a good parent and it’s okay to make efforts to do it.
jackie
June 22, 2016 at 11:18 am (9 years ago)This is a great reminder! Thank you I really needed this. I hve two under two and feel guilty most days when I am not perfect!