We're never going to measure up to the 'perfect parent' model we've built up in our heads: a Frankenstein version of mom and dad cobbled together from our childhoods, our parents, cultural ideals, social media, and everything in between. We want to be good parents, but our pasts hold us back. If you're thinking: 'I can't be a good parent because I had a shitty childhood, bad parents, or a traumatic experience,' stop! Let go of what came before and start taking action in the present to be the person that nurtures their child from a place of love, forgiveness, and integrity. By doing so, you are modeling and equipping your kids to confidently face the world and thrive.