To ask what makes a "good enough" parent?

[georgarina]

And what you think the boundary is between good enough and not?

I aim for 80% good parenting which is parenting that makes me feel like I've done a good job. The other 20% I have to forgive myself for...beind tired and stressed makes me ratty with the kids x

As a parent you must: (in my opinion)

• Listen to your child.
• Interact with your child, but also teach them to spend time by themselves.
• Set rules to secure their safety, such as wearing a seat belt in the car and brushing their teeth.
• Pick your battles. Sometimes you have to go with the flow.
• Be a good example, such as: if you want your child to read, make sure the child sees you reading a book. If you want your child to eat healthy, make sure the child sees you eat healthy.
• Teach your child there are two types of people: Type 1 will see you being kind to them and be kind back. Type 2 will see you being kind to them as weakness and will bully you or take advantage of you.

Rickets

The basics is providing shelter, food, warmth and a safe environment. To be a good enough parent I would say you need to listen to your kids and be responsive, take an interest in them, so what do they like doing at school, hobbies, asking how was their day. Offering and accepting kisses, cuddles, showing and giving affection. Providing them with some form of structure, routine, basic rules like brushing teeth 2x a day, bathing regularly and discipline. Play with them but also give them time to play independently, being bored won't kill them. Doing things that are child orientated, doesn't have to be clubs if you are limited on time, have transport issues or can't afford to but reading, painting playing hide and seek all stuff you can do at home. A good parent meets their kids emotional needs too. It might be controversial but I think good parents enjoy their children too, kids can pick up on if you find them annoying or actively dislike them. Good parents most importantly try, no-ones perfect and with working and taking care of kids many people just don't have enough hours in the day and feel guilty. You can't do everything but as long as you are putting in some effort I think that is good enough.

The theory behind hood enough parent is meeting your child's needs 30% of the time and repairing the rupture when they're babies and their need isn't met.

Really very basic standards of care, judging by meetings I have been in.

I despair of the services in place that are meant to safeguard and protect children.

Meeting basic needs
Basically keeping them alive, fed, warm and a roof over their heads

In childrens services good enough seems to be not actively causing harm either through abuse or neglect.

For me personally it’s more complex about trying my best and thinking of them first; even if I don’t or can’t always put them first

Good enough means meeting your dc's basic needs - so food, shelter, education, health needs and emotional needs such as having a loving relationship, listening to them, feeling safe, being encouraged.

Good enough to not trigger removal is a very low bar and fr lower than most of us would accept for our own children.

The concept of being a good enough parent is based in the idea that humans are not perfect and trying to be a perfect parent means you blame yourself when you are not. It is this self blame that can be detrimental to your parenting.

I personally think if we spent less time comparing our parenting to that of others and more time just doing the best we can then everyone would be happier.