As a mom, scrapbooker, and human being, I make a ton of mistakes (and not necessarily in that order). I find that when I tend to focus on “getting things RIGHT,” I actually miss the mark more. Let me explain. For example, as a parent coach, there are times when, even though I know I want to respond patiently to one of my daughters, I often don’t. The reasons are many (lack of sleep, feeling grumpy, etc.). The dialogue in my head can go something like this: “Hey…you’re a parent coach who works with moms all the time. What would you tell them to do? In a perfect world, what would you do?” Sometimes, these questions are enough to jolt me into a different response: one that is more in line with “This-is-how-a-good-mom-would-respond”.

And sometimes these questions don’t work the way I want them to at all. So, sometimes I yell. Or I take a short break (in the scrapbook room). The point is, nothing works all the time. Because that’s not how life is. Life is messy, and chaotic, and if you’re a mom, you know how true this can be! We are not machines who can spit out perfect results. We are human beings – moms – doing the best we can, one day at a time (and sometimes, one moment at a time). Ironically, there *is* a sort of perfection in letting go of the perfect response. What’s perfect about it is how much energy it frees up to just be real in the moment. I am a mom who is often patient, kind, loving. I am also a mom who can be cranky and impatient. I make mistakes. I learn from them. I go forward. Can you kiss perfect goodbye? Not with an angry, “get out of my life” kiss – like the kiss of death. Instead, draw it to you in warm embrace, thank it for all it has taught you, and let it know you may see it from time to time. And then say goodbye. It’s a farewell ritual that I do daily.