I am not a perfect parent. I try to be, I really try, but it is impossible to be patient all the time and have 24-7 energy. And what is even harder is feeling like you aren’t living up to your own expectations of all the things you think you “should” be or “should” do. I most certainly spend more time feeling guilty about my shortcomings than I ought to. It is easy to get caught up in the details of parenting and get down on yourself for not doing this or not responding to that situation in the “right” way. But, when I take a step back and look at my kids’ lives overall, the view isn’t so bad…

Despite my parenting insecurities, they have a pretty great childhood. They have everything they need and more. They jump in puddles, watch ants, make mud pies, collect rocks, and literally stop to smell the roses. And they do it all in rain boots, tutus, and superhero costumes. They have camping and gardening and friends and stories and imagination. They are safe, happy, and loved.

As parents, maybe we should look at things from our kids’ perspectives instead of our own more often. Rather than focusing on all the things we think we did “wrong”, maybe we should realize that what really matters to them isn’t that we are perfect – it is that we are there. Let’s be honest, they are much more interested in worms and dirt and swings than our parenting pitfalls. Maybe we should be too.