The Rise Of 'Good Enough Parenting:' Why Being Just Good Enough May Be the Best Way To Raise Your Child

Every parent wants the best for their child, but what these parents have to understand is that it is natural for children to have imperfections. They have to understand that those are a natural part of the child's growing up procesess.

Dr. Peter Gray, a prominent psychologist from Boston College, has recently come out with a new concept known as "good enough parenting." In a post in Psychology Today published last week, Gray introduces his concept, which is based on fellow psychologist Bruno Bettelheim's 1987 book "A Good Enough Parent."

"Good enough parents do not worry too much about their imperfections. They strive to do the things listed below, but they recognize that they will not always succeed as fully as they might wish, and they forgive themselves for that," Dr.Gray says in his post. He also points out how love is never perfect and as long as parents do not mess up too badly everything will turn out okay. "Ok is good enough," Gray says.

The concept of good enough parenting somewhat opposes some recent trends that have been on the rise in the world of parenting. In an article on Yahoo Parenting, they were quick to point out the differences between Gray's concepts and those of pediatrician Dr. Laura Jana.

Dr. Jana's approach is steered towards focusing on an exact set of skills that need to be developed, while Dr. Gray's approach focuses more on letting things take their natural course. Although both of these approaches can be considered effective, it may prove to be difficult for the child to cope with Jana's approach. Think of all the pressure a kid would have to endure of his parents raised him like they were running a new company.

In the end, it is up to the parents to decide how they will raise their children. No matter which path they choose, they must remember that all children make mistakes. SO maybe being good enough is the best way.