Let’s be honest: if you’ve ever sat on your couch, surrounded by laundry, wondering if Goldfish crackers count as lunch (they do), then this post is for you.
There’s a myth that creeps into our heads early in motherhood—sometimes even before the baby arrives. It whispers that we’re supposed to be perfect. Perfectly patient, perfectly organized, perfectly dressed, with perfectly behaved kids. And while we’re at it, we should be cooking organic meals, running a side hustle, attending every school event, and still somehow having time for self-care (ha!).
Spoiler alert: That mom doesn’t exist.
And even if she did, I’m not entirely sure I’d want to hang out with her.
Where the Myth Comes From
We’re not born believing we have to be perfect. It’s something we pick up along the way—from Instagram moms with spotless houses and matching outfits, from parenting books written in a tone that feels suspiciously judgy, from that one woman at daycare pickup who swears her toddler has never had a tantrum (sure, Jan).
It doesn’t help that society tends to reward moms who “do it all.” We applaud the mom who bakes from scratch, volunteers at school, and looks fabulous doing it. But the truth is, we’re all fighting our own battles. Some of us are just better at hiding the mess.
Perfection Is a Moving Target
Here’s the problem with trying to be perfect: even if you hit all your goals one day, the bar moves the next. You finally make a homemade dinner? Now you’re expected to make it healthy, Instagram-worthy, and kid-approved. Your kid made it to school on time three days in a row? Great—now people are asking why they don’t have extra-curriculars.
The more you try to be perfect, the less satisfied you’ll feel.
Because perfection isn’t the goal. Survival is. Connection is. Raising tiny humans into decent people is. And those things don’t require perfect. They require love, patience (sometimes), and an endless supply of wet wipes.
The Power of “Good Enough”
Let me say this loud for the moms in the back:
“Good enough” is not giving up. It’s letting go of unrealistic expectations.
It’s choosing your battles. Maybe you yelled this morning—but you also apologized and hugged it out. That’s good enough. Maybe dinner was frozen chicken nuggets—but everyone ate and no one cried. That’s good enough. Maybe you didn’t make it to story time, but your kid knows they’re safe and loved. That’s more than enough.
Kids don’t need perfect moms. They need present ones. They need real ones. Ones who teach them how to handle mistakes, how to be flexible, how to bounce back from a bad day.
What Happens When We Let Go of Perfect
When we stop chasing perfection, something amazing happens—we start actually enjoying motherhood.
You stop feeling like a failure for skipping the dishes and start celebrating the fort you built in the living room. You stop comparing your kid’s messy handwriting to someone else’s Instagram-ready craft project and start noticing the pride in their face when they show you their work. You breathe easier. You laugh more.
You realize that your version of motherhood—messy, loud, unpredictable—is beautiful in its own way.
Real Talk: My Own “Good Enough” Moments
Let me be completely real with you. I have:
- Forgotten pajama day and sent my kid in jeans.
- Fed them popcorn for dinner because I could not deal with one more dish.
- Cried in the bathroom after losing my patience, then gone back out and tried again.
- Pretended not to notice that they hadn't brushed their teeth, because I just didn’t have the energy to argue.
And guess what? My kids still love me. They still think I’m the best mom ever (most of the time). Because they’re not keeping score. They’re not looking for perfection. They’re looking for connection.
A Better Goal: Being a “Real” Mom
Instead of aiming for perfect, aim for real.
Real moms laugh. Real moms lose it sometimes. Real moms admit when they’re wrong. Real moms ask for help. Real moms love their kids fiercely, even when they’re hiding in the pantry with a cookie they don’t want to share.
And that realness? That’s what your kids will remember. That’s what will stick with them long after they’ve outgrown the laundry pile and the bedtime battles.
Final Thoughts
So to all the moms out there feeling like they’re not doing enough: you are. You are doing so much. And you’re doing it well—even when it doesn’t feel like it.
Let’s stop chasing perfect. Let’s embrace “good enough.” Let’s redefine what success looks like in motherhood.
Because the truth is, you’re already enough. You always were.
