Embracing the "perfect in my imperfections"

My number one goal in life is for my children to be happy, successful, and responsible. I push them hard as their mom and as a teacher. I work with their teachers closely, but I try to leave enough "rope" for them to be their own people, their own selves.

This gets difficult at times, but generally, I find I can make it happen.

I often talk about being "perfect in my imperfections." I strive to be my best. In that, I strive for both my students and my children to be their best selves. It is easy to make a mistake in a mathematical calculation then show my students that I made a mistake own it, and show them how I fix it. It is is far less easy to make a mistake on the "mom level." But, it happens.

This week, I have had worked hard to be my best and yet, I still fall short at times.

We have had Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, a board meeting for me, confirmation class (for CD), and a major errand for a purchase for my folks. This on top of the regular weekly stuff such as school/work, meals, and such. On top of all of that, both kids had sleepovers tonight. Miss Hollywood is at a Girl Scout sleepover and CD is with family.

Kiera had a checklist for the things she needed for her overnight with her Girl Scout troop. She packed all that she knew she needed to pack on Wednesday night. Heck, she needed a water sample for something they will work on this weekend and had her water sample ready Monday night. I was in charge of things such as the permission slip and money. I prepped all of that. We made all necessary arrangements and she got on her way right after school today. I was proud of her and I was proud of myself. Then, about 5:30 tonight it hit me. She needed a picture of herself. I failed to send one. Mom card revoked. By failing to send the necessary picture, I feel I failed as a mom. I know I didn't fail, but this was A fail.

This is not the first time, nor the last. That, I am sure.

We travel. We have shown up for weekends away without a single toothbrush. We have had to turn around when I have forgotten tickets. We have had to wing it at the public transportation station. We have had to adjust and be flexible, and move forward.

This weekend, we had a relatively easy weekend. We had time to prepare. We had lists. And we had a mostly close-to-home weekend. Still, I dropped a ball. Not the ball, but a ball.

And, we will be ok even though I forgot a picture. I know that. Still, it stings a wee bit.

I am a teacher who will talk with a student and extend a deadline. I am a mom who will forget to pack a picture. But, I am a teacher who will do everything to help a student succeed and I am a mom who will stand by her child's side always. I am a teacher who will go above and beyond, staying late on a Friday to talk with a former student to better help a current student on a Monday. I am a mom who will play a game of Mancala and learn from her son the day after teaching that same son how to do better research.

I am so far from perfect. There are times I struggle with this. But tonight I am working to accept myself just as I am. Perfect in my imperfections. And you, reading this... you are too. And that is ok. Accept yourself as who you are. Do your best. Always. Be awesome. We got this, Today, tomorrow, always.