I try so hard to be the gentle parent

 I try so hard to be the gentle parent.

But some days?
I'm the parent who snaps.
The one who raises her voice, who sighs a little too loud, who hides in the bathroom just to breathe.

I'm the parent who feels the guilt before my head even hits the pillow.
The one who cries after bedtime because I wish I handled it differently.

But I’m also the parent who keeps showing up.
Who hugs tighter in the morning.
Who apologizes and tries again.
Who is learning right alongside her kids.

I may not get it right every time, but I love them enough to never stop trying.
And that counts for something.
That counts for everything.