I was laughing with my husband tonight whilst discussing the daily parenting fails. It's a regular occurrence. We buoy each other up after another less than perfect parenting day. For example today my eldest has gone to bed with a black eye (bouncy castle related injury) and a grazed elbow (he engaged legs before brain...) But both he and Pud's went to bed smiling. For me as a parent that's what counts.
The media is packed with unrealistic view of parenting. You know the ones. Beautiful pristine nurseries (always in bloody white, go figure!) Fantastic photos of families enjoying days out (no sign of whinging or ice cream covered clothes, shoes, ears...) Mum's and Dads dressed in designer gear, no bags under their eyes or worry lines. Not so the worlds portrayed by parent bloggers who can, in the search of humour, paint parenting in a light so unfavourable that it's a surprise people pro-create at all. These honest and witty accounts provide a more realistic view of the highs and lows of parenthood. Although nothing can prepare you for the truth of raising a small human into a reasonable balanced adult. But how do you know if you are doing a good job?
When professionals talk about 'good enough parenting' they mean you have met a child's basic needs. Physically and emotionally they are cared for and safe. They aren't insisting you take them to the zoo, chase them round soft play or shower them with presents. Children need to be loved and for you to be emotionally available to them. They need to be fed and watered (bit like a plant really) they need to be excercised, stimulated and put to bed. A child needs to be kept safe, clean and warm.
Clearly everyone has good and bad parenting days. Those times when everything comes together and great memories are made. Your confidence soars. Give yourself a mini fist bump, you have this parenting shizzle down. Next morning though, the clock has reset. What amazing parenting can you pull out of the bag today? Nope you got nothing have you? Because you can't be A1 parent 24/7. There are too many variables that cannot be controlled. You're tired, the kids are tired, the weathers bad and the mother of bad parenting days; you just don't feel like parenting today! What you really want is to sit on the sofa and watch total shit on TV. No interruptions, no questions, just you and that remote. Don't worry it doesn't mean you are a crap parent, it just shows that sometimes we all want to get off the world for a while.
We get so carried away with making everything perfect all the time. Trying to reach that elusive parenting dream, thrust upon us by advertising. We forget that it's not the big gestures. It's that cuddle, that story, that time spent together. Think back to your childhood memories. Was the first thing you thought about a material thing or was it time you spent with your parents?
Of course the days out are fun. As are those times when you provide children with new experiences. But what children want more than anything else is to feel loved and safe. To know that they can come to you, that you will be there for them. Not too busy to listen or too stressed to care. You know your parenting is good enough when that little person kisses you goodnight, snuggles down into his bed and whispers I love you, you are my best friend.
This post was first published on http://petitepudding.com