Oliver got in trouble at daycare today. And by “in trouble” I mean he was just being a disobedient 2 year old. He was running away from his teacher, partly because he thought he was being funny and partly because that’s just the kid he is, really. But any kind of negative feedback I get is heartbreaking for this mama. Because I expect my son to listen and be respectful, and pretty much to be the best little boy that I (attempt) to raise him to be. Basically, I expect perfection.

And that’s not fair.

I know darn well that no matter how well I raise him, he will still have moments of bad choice making and behavior. He will make mistakes. He will have consequences and time outs and being sent to his room. To think that this is just 2 years out of the rest of his life, and I’m already having this realization is beyond me.

I strive for perfection in my day to day life; that’s just the person that I am and I don’t see anything changing that.

But to expect that out of my kids is something that I will have to learn to let go, because putting that amount of pressure on them is the last thing that I ever want to do. I want them to be able to come to me when they do make a mistake, because they will know that I will not love them any less. I want them to know that they are allowed to be a kid and to learn as they go. I want them to know that there is grace allowed in this home. Most importantly, they need to know that no amount of mistakes they make is WHO they are. Their mistakes do not define them. Their behavior does not label them. They can be whoever they want to be and I will support them in any way I can, imperfections and all.

-J