Making Together Better

by Robyn Wright on April 15, 2012

in Living

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It does not have to be perfect.

That is the mantra I needed so many times, and still do occasionally. When I was younger I thought every moment of being together with my child had to be perfect. The perfect event or activity, the perfect environment, the perfect food, the perfect toys, perfect.

It does not have to be perfect.

My son does not mention memories of the things I worked so hard to be perfect. What he does remember and talk about is simply the time spent together. Sure, he remembers other details, but it is the time we spent talking, laughing, playing, sharing, cuddling, eating, discussing, and doing things together that makes up the real memories.

It does not have to be perfect.

Even during hard times, ouchies, scrapes, booboos, fights with friends, a botched art project, a broken toy, an F on a paper, or any of those hard things in life we all have to learn – it is still the time together and being supportive and loving and helpful that is most important. Not fixing everything, but helping him learn to be able to fix things on his own or just deal with life’s struggles.

It does not have to be perfect.

Making together better starts with the simplest of being together. I can still want and need those items that make my together time better though. Having those extra things just allows me to be able to enjoy that together time even more.

It does not have to be perfect.

I am far from a perfect parent. I think it takes time to get to that understanding for most of us. We try so hard. We love our children so much and want the best for them. Just remember, the best is not always perfect.

It does not have to be perfect, just make it better together.

 

P.S. This post was started as a way to enter a contest sponsored by Brica to win a trip to a blogging conference. I do hope I win, but as I started thinking and writing the post it was really all about what I had pouring out, not about entering the contest at all at that point. The words I wrote are my truth that come from my heart to share with you all.

That being said I also needed to include the logo (at top) and links to Brica’s website, Brica’s Facebook page, and @Brica on Twitter. I am happy to do all those things because I love that the contest inspired me to be able to write this post which I really love. Thank you Brica!

 

Disclosure: This post is an entry where I may win a prize from Brica. Opinions are my own.

© 2012, Robyn Wright. All rights reserved.

Tagged as: family, parenting

  • jkebeans

    So true, some of the best memories are unplanned.

  • terrik

    This is a big one that many people miss.  It’s the imperfections in life that you learn from  Teaching children to appreciate the good without focusing too much on the bad is one of the best things I think parents can do.  

    I think many parents have this thing, guilt-like feelings when we think we’ve failed in some way because something didn’t turn out the way we wanted.  At heart, I think it’s a good thing if it comes from loving our children so much and wanting them to have things better than we did.  

    Most of all, I think too many of us are too hard on ourselves.  We all need more praise and less criticism.

  • Ravzie

    I suffer from the perfection syndrome myself.  It really is hard sometimes to think about being very good instead of driving myself to be absolutely flawless.  It just can’t be done!  We can’t expect perfection in others either.

    • http://www.RobynsOnlineWorld.com/ Robyn’s Online World

      Isn’t odd that we all know it, but so many of us still try?

  • http://twitter.com/NICKIEISIS3 nickie burke

    sometimes I feel as if to be a good parent I have to be perfect, or else I’m going to ruin my son’s life, but it’s not realstic! no one is perfect, I know that logically but i just want him to be happy and when we spend time playing sometimes he will run up to me and say “i love you mommy” then the idea of perfection goes out the window, he is just happy to be with me.

    • http://www.RobynsOnlineWorld.com/ Robyn’s Online World

      Exactly!!!

  • http://twitter.com/mkjmc Kathy

    I really enjoyed reading your article and it hit home on some of the perfections I try to do

    • http://www.RobynsOnlineWorld.com/ Robyn’s Online World

      Thank you Kathy J

  • http://twitter.com/geekbabe Jean Parks

    Robyn, you give that boy the very best of everything you got & what’s most important is that you give him your heart. Sorry but there isn’t anything more “perfect” than that!

    • http://www.RobynsOnlineWorld.com/ Robyn’s Online World

      Thank you J

  • LAXDUDE

    ipad!

  • http://twitter.com/sellabitmum Tracy Morrison

    Oh this is so wonderful. No, it sure isn’t perfect is it. Love how you wrote this. 

  • http://blog.nerdfamily.com/ Jacqueline Cromwell

    What a great piece! Our kids, like us, don’t wish for perfect parents! Being present, real and loving is the most perfect thing we can be for them!!!

  • http://www.mommywords.com/ Brittany at Mommy Words

    You have got it right!  Perfect is impossible and will just make us feel disappointed.  As long as we are together it will all work out.  Love this post!

  • http://twitter.com/rajean rajean

    Perfect enough for me :-)

  • Pingback: Making Together Better {Type A with Brica Winner} - Mommy Words

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