You forgot to sign the school form.
You raised your voice.
You served cereal for dinner (again).
And now, that familiar voice creeps in: “I’m not doing enough.”
But what if we told you that "good enough" parenting isn’t a failure—it’s the goal?
At Hapidae, we believe that perfection is overrated. What your child really needs isn’t a flawless parent. It’s a present, human, and consistently loving one.
Let’s talk about why “good enough” is not just okay—it’s powerful.
💛 What Is “Good Enough” Parenting?
The term comes from psychologist Donald Winnicott, who studied child development in the 1950s. His research found that children don’t need perfect parents—they need “good enough” ones who meet their basic emotional and physical needs consistently.
This means:
You respond most of the time (but not every single time)
You set boundaries, even if your child doesn’t like them
You make mistakes—and repair them
It’s not about doing everything right. It’s about showing up, again and again.
🧠 Why It’s Actually Better for Your Child
Here’s the twist: being “good enough” is healthier for your child than being perfect.
Why?
It teaches them that mistakes are part of life
It models emotional regulation and repair
It gives them room to build resilience and independence
When we show kids that humans mess up—and can still be loving and safe—we teach them that they, too, are allowed to be imperfect.
🧩 The Myth of the Ideal Parent
Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
You have to be patient all the time | You're allowed to be human and apologize when needed |
Great parents always know what to do | Most of us are figuring it out as we go |
Saying "no" damages your child | Saying "no" with love builds trust |
You need a perfect work/life balance | Sometimes, survival is success |
🛠 How to Embrace “Good Enough”
Here are a few ways to shift your mindset:
1. Catch Yourself in Comparison
Unfollow, mute, or pause on accounts that make you feel inadequate. Social media doesn’t show the full story.
2. Define Your Wins
Did your kids feel safe today? Did you connect, even briefly? That counts.
3. Repair, Don’t Regret
Yelled when you didn’t mean to? Come back later and say, “I’m sorry I got upset. I’m working on it.” That matters more than never yelling at all.
🌱 Progress, Not Perfection
Let go of the pressure to be extraordinary every day.
The truth is, your child doesn’t need a super-parent. They need you—showing up as your honest, trying, learning, sometimes messy self.
And that? That’s more than enough.
– The Hapidae Team 💛