Tell me what you really think.
Imperfection is perfection. And that's just the way we love you!
-G
Another good quote - "The perfect is the enemy of the good."
If only every teacher at Our Old Junior High had been as "imperfect" as you.
WF
I work with kids, and I work with a lot of kids with very hard lives. I'm paid to help them and solve some of their problems. I am not a natural-born nurturer. --Once a school counselor asked me if I "loved children" and my answer was "Some of them."
Every once in a while, I get asked if dealing with difficult kids all day makes me not want to deal with my own kids at the end of the day. The answer is, surprisingly, no. I just feel grateful and humble that my own kids have the luxury of innocence and kindness and childishness, that I have been able to provide a safe and happy space for them to become themselves before they go out to seek their fortunes in the wide, wide, world.
My disappointment at your confession is palpable.
You're not perfect?!?!?
My world is rocked. Right off its moorings.
I think you just gave me wings. Thank you.
mamacita, your kids and mine could sing the same song, together, without missing a beat. thanks for being the kid-kind of teacher, we've known a few of them along the way, and you all make a much bigger difference than what you'd ever believe. blessings on your imperfect head, oh champion of children!
Great Post! You make the world a little brighter, and what's better than that.
But I bet Belle will be "just thrilled" that the whole world knows she's sleeps with the lights on. I do too and people always thinks it means something. I just like to see what's going on asleep or awake.
You wrote:
"I also discovered, to my horror, that much of the world does not care about good motives. They care only about politics, and public opinion, and coincidences, and assumptions."
Aren't you trying to say that a lot of people are just obsessed with what's going on in their own heads rather than interested in what's in other people's heads? Because you're not just talking about good intentions, you are talking about the driven determination to follow through with them.
I think your kids were lucky to have you as a Mom. Think of the stories they will be able to tell....
I really doubt there is any way to parent except from the gut-level. Following a few rules helps, but then there are always the exceptions....
You may not be perfect, but you've written a perfect post! I am always inspired by your thoughts, Mamacita!!
In many ways, you sound like my own mom...she's unselfish~~she'd never feed herself before her children, we'd never have to want for things that she had to give. Not to say that we were spoiled~we were very poor as well. But we had an abundance of love (and discipline, and freedom to become who we are).
And P.S. to Belle~I STILL and ALWAYS leave my living room lamp on at night. All night. 
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