I mess up all the time; as a wife, mother, sister, friend, role model and simply as a human being.

I am admittedly too self-involved sometimes.

I can also be controlling, rigid, boring and easily frustrated.

I do not always provide my husband and children with the undivided attention I see them seeking.

I do not always put away my phone when I should be in the moment.

I do not always pack the healthiest lunches because I don’t take the time to plan them out.

I do use snacks as bribery to get the kids to do something I need/want them to do.

I do say all the time “because I said so.”

I also constantly rush everyone in the family around (driving them crazy) to meet this imaginary deadline I give myself for everything.

Add to that the fact that there are always wet clothes in the washer and nowhere to transfer them to because the dry garments are still in the dryer.

And, well, I have this lazy habit of not always fully unloading the dishwasher and just taking enough stuff out to fit the new dirty dishes. Who does that?!

I AM A MESS! I AM SO FAR FROM PERFECT.

But, at the end of the day, I know this about my kids:

They laugh — good, hearty, from-the-gut laughs — at least five times a day.

They smile at me every at every school pickup/dropoff.

They hug me every morning and every night, without provocation.

They tell me they love me, also without provocation.

They are kind to others.

They hold the door for people.

They feel empathy when they see another child hurt or crying.

They work hard in school and their activities.

And, I know this about my husband:

He loves me enough to go to a stressful job every day so I can stay home with our children.

He still enjoys date nights with me.

He puts up with my many moods.

We still make each other laugh.

We still say “I love you” and kiss every time one of us leaves the house or goes to bed.

And I know this about myself:

I love my family with every fiber of my being and I am trying to be better — a better wife, a better mom, a better sister, a better friend, an example and a better person — every day.

From here on out, I vow to never measure my happiness or success by anything other than the number of kisses I get, hugs I receive, endearing looks aimed in my direction and laughter I hear and you shouldn't either.

The single best way to quantify how "perfect" your life is is by counting the giggles and measuring the smiles of your loved ones.

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