21/07/2026
✨️ You don't have to be a perfect parent this summer.
Today wasn't quite the summer's day I'd imagined. There was no fun-filled day out, no beautiful picnic and no exciting crafts.
Instead, there were big feelings, dysregulation and a child who needed me to help her regulate more than she needed entertainment.
So, as hard as it was, I let go of the pressure. We went for a walk to the shop, picked up some cake ingredients, walked home and baked banana bread together. It wasn't extravagant or fancy but it was enough.
Social media has a funny way of making us believe that everyone else is filling every day with adventures, spending lots of money, creating magical memories and somehow managing to stay on top of everything and it's important to remind ourselves that these are just snapshots.
Our children don't need perfect summers. They need safe adults who help them feel seen, loved and accepted. They need moments of connection far more than a calendar packed with activities.
If today was a "just get through the day" kind of day like ours, then that's ok. If dinner was beige, the house is a mess and you're counting down until bedtime, you are not failing. You're parenting and that's more than enough.