The Primal Invitation of Good Enough Parenting
Parenting observations on guilt and failure
I am an average parent.
Imagine a social media platform where instead of choosing what photos you post or information you share, the world is simply shown your worst moments; and not in the sense of being vulnerable and real with your commentary on a given situation — but actual displays of you at your worst.
Despite allusions to this possibility in film and media, thank goodness such is not the case. Our edited versions of mass communication can endure. If I had to guess the group of people who would have the most unfavorable footage, however, I imagine it would be parents. Unfortunately, the worst parenting moments still have an audience: your children.
If I am honest (or vulnerable; or real), I must confess that I spend an uncountable number of moments lathed in guilt. Whether how I interact or fail to interact, rarely do I handle any given moment with what could be deemed ideal parenting. I yell too much, I forget and lose track of what’s important, and my attention often diverts in uncanny directions. I am, at best, a very average parent. If we saw every moment of your parenting, I’m guessing we would declare you as average, too.
