"I'm not always good at this. I'm not always as good as I want to be at being your mom. I want to be great; and sometimes I am, but sometimes I'm not. Sometimes I get it, and sometimes I don't. Sometimes I do it right, and sometimes I completely miss it. Everyday I make mistakes."

Every parent experiences highs and lows, failures and successes. In a raw letter that was shared to the Love What Matters Facebook page, Jess, author of the Wonderoak blog [1], decided to open up to her kids about her own parenting struggles [2] and insecurities.

Sometimes I snap when I should be sensitive. Sometimes I lecture and give chores [3] when what you needed was a hug. Sometimes I completely and utterly miss it. I know that I do. I mistake your pain for complaining or your sad heart for a bad attitude. I watch myself miss it, and later I grieve that I didn't respond differently. . . .

I miss it when I am scared. I am scared of big things and little things. I really thought adults had it all figured out, but I am one now, and it turns out we don't. Sometimes fear snatches my heart and I can't seem to think of anything else. I forget to relax and to enjoy you. I forget to smile and to laugh. I'm working on that.

I miss it when I am lost. I'm struggling with my own demons and it has nothing to do with you. Sometimes it's anxiety or it's depression, but it's never, ever your fault. I will keep striving for wholeness so that when you reach those obstacles I can help you do the same. . . .

Please keep helping me to see you and to know you. Keep telling me when I hurt your feelings. Keep sharing with me your fears and your insecurities and we will figure it out together. I'm okay with making mistakes, but I'm never okay with losing your heart. Your heart is what matters to me.

I hope that my weakness teaches you something. I hope that when you come upon your own brokenness, tiredness, fear, and confusion, that you will be okay with it. I pray that your imperfections won't scare you as they have me. I pray that you won't run from them, but that you'll wrestle with them and you will keep showing up, saying sorry, and trying again.

We don't always get it right and that's OK.

Jess's honest note is a relatable reminder that though we may attempt to do it all as parents, sometimes we fall short of our own expectations. However, watching our kids grow, even when we miss things because we're focused on something else, should inspire us all to continue doing our best.

"You inspire me to pull out the greatness that's inside me," Jess wrote. "In this family we will make mistakes, but we will keep doing it together and we will keep holding each other other tight. It turns out I'm never, ever, going to be perfect, but I am always and forever yours, and I'm always and forever on your team. That I can promise you."