For a long time, the phrase “good enough” felt uncomfortable to me.
It sounded like settling.
Like giving up.
Like admitting I couldn’t handle everything the way I thought I should.
But over time — and through a lot of exhaustion — I’ve learned something important:
Good enough isn’t failure.
It’s survival with intention.
When Perfection Becomes Too Heavy to Carry
Perfection asks for more than most parents can give.
More patience.
More energy.
More consistency.
More of everything — all at once.
In special-needs parenting, that pressure can become overwhelming quickly.
There is always:
- One more thing to research
- One more skill to work on
- One more need to anticipate
Trying to do everything ideally doesn’t make parenting better.
It makes it unsustainable.
Good Enough Protects What Matters Most
What I’ve learned is this:
Good enough protects my energy.
Good enough protects my mental health.
Good enough, I can show up again tomorrow.
When I stop chasing perfection, I have more room for:
- Patience
- Presence
- Connection
- Calm
Those things matter far more than flawless execution ever could.
My Child Needs Me Whole — Not Perfect
My child doesn’t need a perfect version of me.
They need a version of me who:
- Is emotionally available
- Can regulate when things are hard
- Has energy left to connect
- It isn’t completely depleted.
Good enough allows that version of me to exist.
Perfection does not.
Letting go of impossible standards is an act of care for yourself and your child, fostering feelings of kindness and understanding.
Releasing unrealistic expectations wasn’t easy.
It meant admitting I couldn’t do everything.
It meant choosing what mattered most — and letting the rest wait. This can help you feel more in control and less overwhelmed.
But letting go didn’t make me less committed.
It made me wiser.
A Gentle Closing Thought
If you’ve been pushing yourself to meet standards that feel impossible…
If you’ve been afraid that “good enough” means you’re falling short…
Let this be your reminder:
Good enough is not giving up.
Good enough is choosing what lasts.
And sometimes, good enough is exactly what your family needs.
