July 2025
It’s happening. Another phone call from the school about your child struggling to follow directions in class. Maybe you’ve shown up empty handed to Wednesday night scouts, forgetting it was your turn to bring the snacks. In a rush to get out the door your brain blanks on a calendar change, and you show up to your teenager’s therapy session two hours early. Or maybe you’re a prospective parent asking yourself, “How on earth will I do it all?”
I’m here to let you in on a little secret. One of the best ways to hold on to your sanity as a parent is by giving yourself grace. Especially in those extra stressful times. Sounds simple enough, right? But the fact of the matter is that many of us hold extra high standards for ourselves when it comes to parenting. Whether you’re a biological parent, foster parent, adoptive parent, or kinship caregiver, many of us think if we’re anything less than perfect we’ll fail our children. But here’s the kicker – our kids aren’t looking for us to be perfect. If anything, acknowledging our imperfections can help us become more relatable to our children. They learn from how we handle our mistakes and missteps. In these moments, we can show them how we apologize, how we regroup, and how we move forward. We’re teaching them that it’s okay to be human; that it’s okay to try your best and still fall short sometimes.
Keep in mind, giving yourself grace doesn’t mean letting go of accountability or responsibility. It means balancing both with compassion. It’s telling yourself, “I messed up today, but that doesn’t make me a bad parent.” It’s giving yourself permission to rest, reset, and try again tomorrow.
So, the next time you’re tempted to spiral into guilt or fill your mind with self-doubt… pause. Take a deep breath. And remember, parenting is not a performance. It’s a relationship. One filled with learning curves, messy mornings, and small, sacred moments of connection.
You’re not alone. You’re giving it your all. And that is more than enough.
Want to keep the conversation going?
Take a moment to reflect. What are some small ways you can show yourself more kindness? Discuss it with your partner or another parent friend. Don’t have a partner or friend to discuss with? Contact KPARC about joining a peer-to-peer support group, or click this link if you’d like to learn more about our support groups first.