Layers of the Mind

Why embracing ‘good enough’ parenting might be the healthiest thing you do this week.

You know that feeling when you’re trying to be the Pinterest mom, the peaceful parent, the snack wizard, the emotional coach and you still somehow mess up bedtime, lose your cool, and forget to put the chicken in the chicken salad ? Yeah. Me too.

But what if “good enough” is actually great?

The Myth of the Perfect Parent

Perfectionism is sneaky. It’s dressed up as “doing your best,” but it quietly steals your joy and fuels stress. According to psychologist Donald Winnicott, the concept of the “good enough mother” (or parent) means your child doesn’t need flawless, you just need to be responsive, loving, and human. Mistakes? They’re part of the relationship, not the end of it.

What I Tried

Last week, I decided to test this theory. I gave myself permission to:

Order takeout without guilt. Say, “I need a minute” instead of powering through a meltdown. Let my daughter wear whatever made her feel good even if it clashed like a Crayola crime scene. Lower the bar and see what really mattered.

What Happened

Spoiler: The world didn’t fall apart. My kid still smiled. We connected more. And I stopped snapping at minor things because I wasn’t wound so tight.

What I Learned

Connection > perfection. Kids need authenticity, not constant accommodation. Self-compassion is contagious.

Quick Takeaways

✔️ You don’t have to be everything all the time.

✔️ Repair matters more than being right.

✔️ The mess is where the magic lives.

So if you’re hanging on by a thread today, this is your permission to loosen your grip. Be the real you. Your kids don’t need a perfect parent they need you, present, flawed, and loving anyway.