Embracing Imperfection in Parenting and Storytelling

A joyful child revels in the chaos and creativity of a paint-splattered art studio, fully embracing the colorful mess.

If there’s one thing both parenting and storytelling have taught me, it’s this: perfection is overrated.

When I first became a mom, I had this invisible checklist of what I thought “good” parents did. Homemade meals. Organized closets. Calm responses. (Spoiler: I nailed about one of those, and it was mostly the calm responses… after coffee.) Somewhere along the way, between sticky fingers and bedtime meltdowns, I realized that perfection isn’t what kids need. What they need is presence.

And the same is true for storytelling.

When I sit down to write, especially for children, I catch myself trying to tie everything up in a neat little bow — a perfect moral, a perfect rhythm, a perfect happily-ever-after. But life, much like parenting, isn’t always tied in bows. It’s messy, loud, tender, chaotic, and completely unscripted. And that’s what makes it beautiful.

The Beauty in the Mess

My son once handed me a sandwich that made absolutely no sense. (Yes, that sandwich.) Peanut butter on the outside, pickles in the middle. He was proud, certain that this was the best creation the world had ever seen. I wanted to tell him it was wrong — that sandwiches don’t go that way — but then I saw the joy on his face.

He wasn’t trying to be perfect. He was being curious. Creative. Unafraid.

That moment became the heartbeat behind Ethan and the Inside-Out Sandwich. Because somewhere between the spilled peanut butter and the laughter, I realized that imperfection isn’t something to fix — it’s something to celebrate.

Parenting Without the Highlight Reel

Social media loves the “highlight reel.” The spotless kitchens, matching pajamas, the parents who never raise their voices. But real parenting — the kind that shapes character — happens in the ordinary, unfiltered moments. The ones where you apologize after snapping. The ones where you laugh so hard you cry. The ones where you’re late, tired, and somehow still trying.

That’s where our kids learn grace. That’s where they learn that it’s okay to mess up and try again.

And when I write, I want my stories to hold that same kind of grace — to remind both kids and parents that we don’t have to have it all figured out. We just have to show up with love, and maybe a little peanut butter on our hands.

Stories That Reflect Real Life

The best stories, like the best parents, are honest. They admit that sometimes we get it wrong, but we keep showing up anyway. My favorite children’s books have always been the ones that let kids see themselves — not just in their strengths, but in their quirks, fears, and differences too.

That’s the magic of storytelling. It lets us take our imperfections and turn them into connection points. It tells kids (and the grown-ups reading beside them) that who they are, just as they are, is enough.

Letting Go of Perfect

If I’ve learned anything — from motherhood, from teaching, from writing — it’s that perfection doesn’t inspire anyone. Authenticity does. Vulnerability does.

So whether I’m behind the camera, behind the keyboard, or behind the wheel trying to get my kids somewhere on time (again, trying), I remind myself that grace beats perfection every single time.

Because the most meaningful stories — and the most memorable childhoods — aren’t the ones that go perfectly according to plan. They’re the ones filled with laughter, love, and a little bit of peanut butter on the outside.