Our children don’t need us to be perfect

Our children don’t need us to be perfect, they need us to be “good enough.” 

The “good enough” parent was a concept introduced by Psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott.  I love this concept.  

Parenthood is about striving to give our best most of the time and making amends when our connections falter.  The "good enough" parent understands that perfection is an unattainable goal. 

I continuously witness parents being told what they should and should not be doing.  This comes in various forms: routines they should be following, strict rules for wake windows, sleep training marketed as gentle and holistic, feeding regimes.  

Most importantly, I see information that really distracts us from truly seeing and learning what it means to be a “good enough” parent, discouraging families from experimenting with what feels right for them. 

We're all human, faced with our own unique challenges. Yet, it's in our imperfections that we teach our children vital life lessons.  It is in moments of repair, connection and love that we support our children to thrive.  

The good enough parent encourages a balanced approach to parenting, shifting our focus to nurturing and responsive care rather than rigid rules and unattainable perfectionism.