TV, movies, even our social media feeds would have us believe that perfection is a perfectly attainable goal for parents. But CareNotes author Allison Gingras urges her fellow parents to embrace the concept of “good enough.” She offers advice backed up with firsthand experience, reminding that no should mean no, parents are the first, best role models, and there’s no shame in admitting mistakes and asking for forgiveness. “Part of being a good enough parent is realizing that you are only human,” writes Gingras, “and that good enough is actually a pretty amazing average.”

By Allison Gingras