Is my little guy eating dirt? Why yes. Yes he is.
The Myth of Perfect Parenting and the Real Work of Parenthood
As I’ve been putting together my series on The Myth of Perfect Parenting, I realized this piece from a year ago fits right in with the message, so I wanted to repost it here. (I now have four boys instead of three, so you can just imagine the chaos of our next family picture!)
How to Deal With Your Parenting Critics
Why Imperfect Parenting is Good for Kids
I remember the first time I took one of my sons in for stitches. By the time I buckled him into his car seat with that bloodstained cloth still pressed to his cheek, he had already stopped crying. But the tears were just starting to pool in my own eyes. I felt like I had failed. I had been given a perfect, beautiful boy and I let him fall, let him get hurt, and now there would forever be a scar to remind me of my failure. I couldn’t take it away. I couldn’t fix it.
The Myth of Perfect Parenting
My fourth son was born just a few fast-moving months ago. I’m sure I’ve spent hours looking at his perfect little wrinkly toes, and dimpled hands, and rosy lips. I’m often overcome with the thought of how amazingly perfect he is.
I’ve found myself thinking that with this new little one, I’m a new parent all over again. And, as my wandering line of thinking goes, it’s a new opportunity to get things right. I can start over. I haven’t made any of my parenting mistakes yet. I get caught up in the fervor of perfect parenting all over again. [Read more…]