No sugar, no packaged food, no screen time and bedtime strictly at 7 pm; that's what perfect parenting supposedly looks like. Or at least, that's what social media has been telling us it should be. Between endless Instagram reels of perfect lunch boxes and influencers introducing new parenting styles, the idea of "perfect parenting" has turned into a goal everyone feels they should achieve.
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But does parenting really need to be perfect? Skipping bedtime once in a while for an extra chapter of a storybook, or letting your child enjoy a slice of cake at a celebration, won't harm their growth. In fact, these small moments of flexibility often turn into the most treasured memories.
The truth is, maintaining the image of a perfect parent can be draining, not just for the parent but for the child, too. The pressure to do everything right, all the time, leaves little room for joy, mistakes, or genuine connection.
So, should we really be chasing perfection in parenting, or is it just a carefully crafted myth we've been taught to believe?
Dr Divya Shree K R, consultant, psychiatry, Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru, tells India Today that perfection in parenting is a carefully constructed myth. "Many people believe good parents must always be patient, loving, and make the right choices.
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