I Thought I Had to Be a Perfect Mom… Until I Read This

Recently, I had two heartfelt conversations with a dear friend. The first was full of emotion—tears, frustration, and that heavy feeling of not measuring up. I told her I had been trying so hard to be a good mom. I was doing all the things, but still felt like I was falling short. My house was loud and messy, my temper was short, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I was failing my children.

Then came the second conversation. Gently, she said something that completely changed how I saw my role as a mother.

She said something along the lines of: “People always say there’s no manual for parenting… but God actually gave us one. It’s the Bible.” (She also mentioned going back to my bible study: Magnify 90, which I highly recommend!)

Something clicked in my heart.

The Manual We Forget About

I had been reaching for all the usual tools—parenting books, podcasts, social media tips, even routines from other moms I admire. But I was overlooking the most important source of wisdom. God’s Word.

It is not just a book of old stories. It is living truth. And in it, God gives us everything we need to know about love, forgiveness, discipline, mercy, and the kind of strength that only He can provide.

I realized that if I want to grow as a mother, I need to return to the source. Not because I am failing, but because I need His grace to keep going.

What the Bible Says About Parenting

Here are a few verses that have really been speaking to me lately:

Proverbs 22 verse 6

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.This reminds me that parenting is a long journey. Formation happens little by little. I am not shaping perfect children, but forming souls to walk with the Lord.

Deuteronomy 6 verses 6 and 7

These commandments are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road.This tells me that faith is not only taught during prayer time or at Mass. It is lived in the everyday. God wants us to speak of Him while we fold laundry, serve lunch, or drive to the store.

Psalm 127 verse 3

Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.This one always humbles me. My children are not mine to control. They belong to God. I am here to guide them, to protect them, and to surrender their lives to Him over and over again.

Learning to Let Go of Perfect

I want to be really honest here. I am not a parenting coach. I am not an expert. There are many days when I wonder if I am getting anything right. I raise my voice more than I want to. I get tired and distracted. I compare myself to other moms and feel like I am falling behind.

But I am learning something beautiful: God did not create me to be perfect. He created me to grow.

He calls me to show up, to keep learning, to ask forgiveness when I mess up, and to keep moving forward with Him.

That shift in perspective changes everything. I do not need to have it all together. I just need to keep turning to Him.

A Few Resources I Am Loving

If you feel like you are on this journey too, here are some things that have been blessing me:

A Bible for Catholic Moms

The Great Adventure Catholic Bible by Ascension PressIt is color-coded, clear, and made with love for people who want to understand Scripture more deeply.Find it here → https://amzn.to/4o3kTJJ

Podcasts that Encourage My Heart

• Messy Family Podcast

• Gentle Catholic Parenting with Kim Cameron Smith

• Focus on Parenting from Focus on the Family

• The Bible in a Year with Father Mike Schmitz

• Discipleship Parenting

• Now That We Are a Family

• BratBusters Parenting Podcast

  
  

Some are Catholic, some are simply Christian in approach, but all have helped me feel less alone.

Let’s Learn From One Another

I would love to know—how are you keeping God at the center of your parenting right now? What helps you stay rooted in grace on the hard days?

Leave a comment below or come find me on Instagram @thelittlewayacademy or YouTube in this video. I am always grateful to learn from other mothers walking this road of faith and family.

You are not alone. You are not failing. You are growing, just like your children.

With love and prayers,

Maria Ignacia

The Little Way Academy