Mom Life in the Messy Middle: Why “Good Enough” is Sometimes the Goal

When my kids were younger, I thought the “messy middle” of motherhood was the toddler years.
Now, with kids who are 9, 11, and 13, I know better.

This is the real messy middle — where the days are filled with math lessons, therapy appointments, driving to activities, making snacks (again), helping them walk through trauma, and navigating big kid emotions.
They’re old enough to have opinions, but still young enough to need me for so much. They also think they know more than me. 

And the truth is? This season is not about perfection — it’s about being good enough.

Why “Good Enough” Works for Me

I used to think I could keep every plate spinning — homeschool lessons done on time, a spotless kitchen, home-cooked meals every night and always having the right answers for my kids’ questions.

But here’s what I’ve learned:
Chasing perfection in this stage just means running yourself into the ground.

“Good enough” looks like:

• Saying yes to frozen pizza on Friday nights after a long week of homeschool.
• Letting the laundry sit until tomorrow.
• Choosing a few priorities per day instead of trying to conquer the whole list.

It’s not giving up — it’s choosing what matters most right now. It’s choosing not to do it all.

What “Good Enough” Has Given Me

When I stopped aiming for perfect:

• My kids saw a mom who could laugh when things didn’t go as planned (and boy, that happens a lot).
• We had more time for real conversations — sometimes about friends, feelings and faith, other times while grabbing a coffee or doing a project together.
• I had space to enjoy my coffee while it’s still cold (because I love a good cold brew) and soak in the small, quiet moments — simply being present with my family and myself.

Try Practicing “Good Enough” This Week

1. Lower the bar where it doesn’t matter. Dinner doesn’t have to be fancy to be nourishing. Serve leftovers back-to-back nights (that’s what I’m doing this week).
2. Protect your energy for what matters most. For me, that’s connection with Jimmy, my kids, and time with God. It’s saying no to things that don’t serve me.
3. Remember — this is a season. It won’t always be this busy, loud, and full. One day they won’t need us like they used to, but they’ll still need us in new ways. While I long for quietness sometimes, I know I’ll miss the noise.

💗 Friend, these years are shaping who our kids will become — but they’re also shaping us.
I’ve seen lately how much I’ve grown and changed. Watching my kids grow up has shaped me in ways I didn’t expect.

Sometimes the best thing we can show them is that life doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.
Life is beautiful when we let it be — and when we let go of perfection.

Love and Support,