If you’ve been scrolling through social media lately, you may have stumbled upon some over-the-top Easter basket displays—the color-coordinated toys, personalized everything, and a vibe that screams Instagram **perfect. And maybe, just for a second, you might wonder: Am I doing enough?
Let me remind you: You are.
Social media often sells us a shiny version of parenting—neat, curated, and impossibly perfect. But beneath the filters and festive setups, many of us are just trying to get through the day. It’s easy to fall into the “shoulds”—I should do more, be more, give more. But that pressure? It’s not helping. If anything, it’s leading us further away from what actually matters.
So let’s zoom out. Perfection isn’t the enemy—but why we chase it matters. If you genuinely love going all out and it fills your cup, go for it! But if it feels like another obligation, another thing you “should” do to be a good parent, that’s a cue to pause. Because perfection doesn’t build stronger relationships—connection does.
Next time you feel consumed with making things “just right,” remind yourself: I can do what works. Ask yourself:
When you let go of unnecessary pressures, you make space for clarity, confidence, and presence. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be you—and that is more than enough.
A powerful reminder from Brené Brown about leading by example:
Who are are and how we engage with the world are much stronger predictors of how our children will do than what we know about parenting… In terms of teaching our children to dare greatly in the “never enough” culture, the question isn’t so much “Are you parenting the right way?” as it is: “Are you the adult that you want your child to grow up to be?" If we want our children to love and accept who they are, it’s our job to love and accept who we are.
from Daring Greatly
Jill Smokler captures the truth behind parenting perfection pressure::
Nothing can be lost by admitting our weaknesses and imperfections to one another. In fact, quite the opposite is true. We will be better mothers, better wives, and better women if we are able to finally drop the act and get real. Who are we pretending for, anyway?
How will you do what works this weekend?
Continue this reflection in the Moment for Parents app.