The document discusses the author's views on perfection and how it can create stress, especially for children. As a mother, she noticed her daughter was overly focused on getting three stars for her homework and erasing her work repeatedly to try to achieve perfection. The author later realized in her own life how being a perfectionist led her to feel trapped and stressed. Now, with her own children, she wants them to learn and grow at their own pace without pressure to be perfect. She believes children should be allowed to be creative and enjoy their childhood rather than feeling they must achieve perfection in all areas.

1. Iknow the title itself is strange. Everyone knows
that perfect is the new FAD word and how can
someone be in awe of imperfections? It might
sound like I’m a lazy mom, But I’m happy with the
tag!
Okay, let’s see another side of the story:
Last week, I was helping my 5-year-old to finish
her homework. She was given to write a few three-
letter words in her workbook. But what I noticed
was that she was constantly erasing her written
work and striving hard to write it better.
Recently, she learned to write three-letter words
and in limited time, and she is still getting into it. I
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2. interfered and asked her, “Why are you
unnecessarily erasing your work again and again?”
She replied, “Then I will not get three stars on my
work.” I was dumbstruck, why does she always
need three stars on her work? I told her calmly,
“Write the way you can and don’t look for things
that you cannot do with the limited time frame and
it’s completely OKAY if you get two stars or even
one at times.”
Again, another week at her PTM, when the teacher
told me, “she writes with so much of perfection,”
my expression changed to that of grief.
Honestly, I really dread this word
“Perfection” because I have
sensed that one word closely
associated with it is “Stress”.
At a certain point in life, I have encountered this
word very closely. I just don’t want them to be
perfect in studies and to be perfect in sports,
perfect with communication, perfect in art and
perfect in dance and so on. I know expectations
have no boundaries and ultimately this word will
swallow you one day!
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3. Years back, this perfect word was my top priority.
Perfection to look good, spick and span house,
perfection to cook, perfection in office work,
perfection in almost all possible areas where I
wanted to land single-handedly. I was the degree
holder of the so-called tag of superwoman and
completing every task in a jiffy. In time, I added
one more degree, that of a perfect multi-tasker. For
instance, if you want to gorge on a perfect meal
and at the same time want your house to look
amazingly amazing, then multitasking is
inevitable.
Later, with this habit, I reached a point where I
was completely stressed and I had no clue when it
happened. By the time I realized the situation, I
was already trapped. The first question that came
from a doctor was: “Are you a perfectionist type?”
Till that time I never knew that this word had so
many powers that could even lead a person
towards downfall.
I know everybody wants perfection with their
work and probably it’s the need of the hour. But
ultimately this is killing us. Let the perfection come
in its own pace and it’s not necessary that everyone
should be perfect everywhere. I learned through
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4. experience and accepted the fact that sometimes
it’s better to accept things as they are.
Even perfection has its own
limitations!
Being a mother of two, I know how much pressure
children have in their daily lives, perfect
handwriting, perfect projects, perfect artwork and
the list is endless.
But for me, it’s a little different. So whenever they
do their artwork, projects and school homework
my only advice is, yes, do it properly not to get
stars but for your knowledge. And if there is
something that they cannot attempt then do as
much as you can. I don’t make their projects and
don’t write for them and it’s very clear from my
end!
Even for many other tasks, why do I need to make
them perfect just to show them off. I know that my
8-year-old and 5-year-old cannot do the same
things I can. Let them write in their own writing
whether it’s good or bad. Let them fix things in
their own manner even if it looks filthy or weird.
I feel every child and every person is different, but
running in the rat race just to get fame. But
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5. ultimately it will not have any face value. Why
compare and create unnecessary havoc?
But on the contrary, that doesn’t mean that
children should not go to extra-curricular classes
and not participate in competitions. They should,
with the knowledge that winning is not an ultimate
end to everything. Life is much more than that and
let them enjoy their childhood as carefree as they
can with no stress to achieve any goal.
As a mother, I don’t want my children to align
themselves in the line of perfection. I want to let
them learn with time and if they really want
perfection for specific things, it would be
completely their choice.
In the end, what matters to me is their nature and
how they nurture themselves as good human
beings, as the creative child or as a fun-loving kid
rather than people with perfect dining manners,
who never miss projects, always get 100% marks
and those who carry unlimited certificates of
appreciation.
I am completely happy with their messy book racks
and uneven drawing sheets and not snipping their
wings to fly high with the word “Perfect.”
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