In a world obsessed with success, we’ve forgotten that average is okay—more than okay; it’s real life. Not every child needs to be a prodigy, and not every parent should push for perfection. The constant pressure for kids to excel in everything isn’t making kids well-rounded; it's stressing them out.

Ever feel like everyone else is gliding through life effortlessly while you’re stuck running uphill? It’s easy to think others have it all figured out, but the reality is often far more complicated. People have all sorts of hidden advantages that make their lives look picture-perfect from the outside. But don’t be fooled — you’re only seeing the highlights, not the messy middle. Behind every “perfect” life is a mix of unseen help, unique circumstances, and a few good smoke-and-mirrors tricks that make it all look effortless.

Every new parent knows those initial weeks of waking every two hours with your newborn. You brace yourself, thinking it’s temporary, clinging to the hope that those sleep windows will gradually stretch. But when my one-year-old started reverting back to waking every two hours, I got desperate.

Motherhood isn’t a magical, transcendent act that automatically makes you the best mom ever, solely dedicated to your child’s upbringing. I've compiled what I consider to be the 10 most crucial pieces of advice for every new mom (and partner).

Motherhood is no walk in the park. “Moming” can feel less like a labor of love and more like an unappreciated grine. The struggle is real, especially for those perfectionists among us, grappling with the unattainable quest for perfection in the current season of life.