Good enough is everything

As Mother’s Day approaches, it’s natural to reflect on the journey of motherhood.

In a world where social media often showcases curated snippets of seemingly perfect parenting, we must acknowledge the stark contrast between the idealised image and the gritty reality of raising children. Furthermore, ‘good enough’ is what children need to flourish and develop ‘adaptive’ mental health. It’s the adjustments made to stay in tune and manage our own emotions that teach children about their own regulation.

Scrolling through Instagram, it’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to the impeccably styled photos of mothers effortlessly juggling work, family, and self-care. The reality, however, is far from the filtered images and perfectly crafted captions. Parenthood is messy, unpredictable, and demanding. It’s waking up at odd hours to comfort a crying child, navigating tantrums in public places, negotiating sulks and strops on the daily, and constantly worrying about whether we’re doing enough for our kids.

We can feel compelled to showcase our highlight reel while concealing the behind-the-scenes struggles (perpetuating the ‘perfect parent’ image). Or worse, we feel we are failing.