We Don’t Need to Be Perfect: A Reflection for Mothers

Motherhood has a way of bringing out the perfectionist in us. We want to give our children the best, create a happy home, and somehow also keep up with our own goals. Living abroad can add another layer — we may feel the need to prove ourselves, to be the strong and capable mom even without our family networks nearby.

But here’s the truth I’m slowly learning: we don’t need to be perfect.

The Pressure of “Perfect” in Motherhood

I used to think being a “good mom” meant having it all together — patient, creative, organized, always present. But motherhood quickly showed me that perfection is impossible. There will be messy kitchens, tears (mine and my child’s), and days when nothing goes as planned.

Instead of perfection, what my child needs most is my presence, my love, and my willingness to repair when things fall apart.

Yoga’s Gentle Reminder

On my yoga mat, I’m reminded again and again that practice is not about perfection. It’s about showing up, noticing, and being with what is. Some days my balance is wobbly, or my mind won’t settle, but I still receive what the practice offers me.

Motherhood is the same. It’s not about flawless execution. It’s about being willing to pause, breathe, and return — again and again — with love.

Motherhood Abroad and the Myth of Doing It All

Raising children away from home often makes me feel like I should “compensate” — to be everything for my kids because grandparents or extended family aren’t close by. But carrying that weight only leads to exhaustion.

I’m learning that asking for help, keeping things simple, and letting go of perfection doesn’t make me less of a mom. It makes me a more present one.

A Gentle Pause

If you’re reading this and feel the pressure of being perfect, take a moment now:

• Place one hand on your heart and one on your belly.
• Inhale deeply, exhale slowly.
• Whisper to yourself: “I don’t need to be perfect. I just need to be me.”

Yoga Poses to Embrace Imperfection

Yoga is a practice of returning, not performing. When I feel caught in the pressure of being perfect, these poses remind me to soften, release control, and accept myself as I am:

1. Child’s Pose (Balasana)
   Resting close to the earth reminds me that it’s okay to surrender. I don’t have to hold it all.
2. Tree Pose (Vrksasana)
   Even when I wobble, I’m still growing. Balance is never perfect, and that’s the point — it’s about steadying and starting again.
3. Seated Forward Fold (Paschimottanasana)
   Folding inward invites acceptance. Some days I can reach far, other days only a little — and both are enough.
4. Supine Twist (Supta Matsyendrasana)
   Twists help me let go. They show me that release can feel gentle, not forced.
5. Corpse Pose (Savasana)
   The ultimate reminder that simply being — not doing — is enough.

✨ Try choosing one or two of these poses this week. Let them be a reminder: you don’t need to be perfect in your practice, or in your motherhood. You just need to show up as you are.

An Invitation

This week, I invite you to notice where perfectionism sneaks into your motherhood — and gently let it go. Maybe it’s the pressure to cook a perfect dinner, or to always say yes, or to be endlessly patient.

Choose one small thing to release. Notice how it feels to give yourself permission to be human, not perfect.

✨ Motherhood isn’t asking us to be perfect. It’s asking us to be real, to be present, and to love — both our children and ourselves — through the messiness of it all.