If you asked me on any given day how we are doing as parents, I would tell you I’m reasonably sure we’re doing an okay job – not failing completely but certainly with room for improvement.

Of course there are days when I’m absolutely, positively sure we’re failing. When the calls from the school are coming fast and furiously. When doors are being slammed, tears are being shed and alert status in our home is high. When I’m concerned we are not protecting them enough, not preparing them enough – just not doing enough.

And then there are days when I’m absolutely, positively sure we are doing it right. That we are raising children who will be caring, daring, and resilient. That we will be sending two people out into the world who will be open to adventure, open to ideas, open to love, and understanding that to try and fail is better than to never try at all.

Today was one of those days.

Driving our daughter to school this morning, One Direction’s “Perfect” (Radio Disney version) played on the radio. Listening to the lyrics “Baby, you’re perfect, Baby, you’re perfect” she replied. . .

“Perfect is the opposite of awesome.”

Asking her to explain she continued with “because no one’s perfect.”

Because if someone thinks you are perfect, you are going to disappoint. Because trying something new rarely goes perfectly. Because perfect is overrated.

And while I might be contradicting our daughter when I say this – that moment was awesome. And it was perfect.