You know the type. She was touting her gourmet honey made with fresh picked herbs from her organically grown garden. I scoffed at her audacity, but the breaking point came when I watched her don beekeeper gear and collect honey from beehives. This was no mere woman. She had to be genetically engineered, a modern-day Stepford wife. Homemade honey — let’s get real!

Thank goodness I came to my senses before I threw the nearest thing at the television. I was inspired from that moment forward to bring some sanity and rational expectations into the lives of real women, and in this case real mothers since I had just joined their ranks.

I don’t mean to be so exclusive, but if you’ve got a staff of maids, nannies, cooks and gardeners this website probably won’t suit you. But if you’re a Not-So-Perfect parent, and it’s difficult for you to find the time to buy ready-made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches rather than make your own honey — I’m talking to you.

As a club of Not-So-Perfect parents, we are a diverse group. Included in our ranks are moms, dads, single parents, step-parents and even grandparentss. We work outside the home and we stay at home. But most of all, we are the caregivers who love our children and try to maintain sanity in an insane world.

Honestly, being a parent is not about being perfect. It’s about being real. In my opinion, striving for perfection does not bring you closer to your kids. The pursuit of perfection only leads to frustration and serves as a wedge between you and your children. That said, I’m certainly relieved because I’ll never be perfect, so I’ve had to snuggle up to the concept of being a Not-so-Perfect parent and doing the best I can.

Allow this blog to be the forum through which we join together to share thoughts, stories, insights, advice and even frustrations. I think we can help each other, so visit my website at www.wfaa.com/parent or write to me at psmith@wfaa.com.

Always be real.