Rooted&Real here, again.
So let's pick this up.
This is another note on 'Parenting'.
So to every tired parent, listen here.
Those kids, they don't need a perfect parent.
They just need a present one.
I hope you heard me.
Your kids don't need a perfect parent.
They just need a present one.
('Be a Present Parent, Not a Perfect One.') So we are here.
We're seeing homemade lunches, perfect bedrooms, five languages by age four.
And we think, "I'm failing."
So we chase perfection.
The clean house, those lovely snacks.
The 'no-screen-time, 'no-sugar, 'no-mistakes' childhood.
But what we're chasing is perfect.
But there's no perfection because we're missing those actual moments.
The kids won't remember if the house was clean.
They'll remember if you looked up from your phone when they talked.
They won't remember the perfect birthday party.
They'll remember you dancing in the kitchen with them.
Listen, 10 distracted minutes don't count.
But 2 minutes of eye contact, 2 minutes of laughing, 2 minutes
of really listening, that does. It does count.
So put down your phone.
Five minutes only.
Get on that floor.
Say, "Tell me about your day," and actually wait for the answer.
Let the laundry wait.
Let the dishes wait.
You know what?
The mess will still be there, but this version of your kid won't.
So to every parent carrying guilt, you don't have to be perfect.
You just have to be here.
And guess what?
You already are.