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This video appeared in my memory feed yesterday. It’s several years old, but it’s one of my favorites. Watch it to the end to see a funny mom fail.

I’ve watched it hundreds of times and it still makes me laugh.

I don’t just chuckle because I find it funny. I laugh because it fills my heart with joy!

I love it because it accurately reflects the values my wife seeks to live out with our family. She doesn’t always achieve them. But when she does, it’s a thing of beauty.

Heidi’s a smart mom. And if you’re reading this, then you are too. Her little mom fail reminds me of three truths every smart mom knows but can sometimes forget. (They apply to dad’s as well.)

Truth #1 – Quality Time happens amidst Quantity Time.

Life is busy. And we all tell ourselves certain lies to stay sane.

One lie that is super expensive for families is the lie of Quality time. Don’t believe the lie. You can’t pick the moments that will last a lifetime.

Quality time moments happen when you invest a significant amount of time with those you love. Want quality time? Invest quantity time.

The moment Heidi face-plants in the pool was one of thousands captured on video that day. What makes it so memorable is that it caught us by surprise. We didn’t plan for quality time. We discovered it amidst our quantity time.

Life is busy. You can’t always invest large chunks of time in your family. But when you do, you will discover quality time moments that last a lifetime.

Truth #2 – Encouragement allows Us to attempt Anything.

It’s quite clear that none of the Clarks visit the bike park regularly.

It’s also quite clear that mommy Clark had never jumped a ramp in her life. At first, she had some misgivings about making the attempt. But with her family cheering her on – she did it.

Life is challenging. And we all wonder if we are enough. There is a simple answer.

Heidi jumped that ramp many more times that day. Each time she got better. Each time she had fun. And each time she made that jump, she taught her kids the value of encouragement.

Life is challenging. Foster an encouraging environment for your loved ones.

Truth #3 – Making Mistakes is better than Faking Perfections.

Many moms wouldn’t let their husbands post this video. That’s why I didn’t ask Heidi for permission.

Just kidding, of course, I asked permission. And for those of you who know Heidi, of course, she gave it.

You see, Heidi is a low pretense kind of mom. She has five kids and a husband who acts like one. She manages the books for several businesses and volunteers at our kid’s schools and extra-curricular activities.

But she’s not superwoman or super mom. She face-plants plenty of times. Her family is a priority, but we’re not her only priority.

Heidi is an incredible woman. And being a mom is just a part of who she is. Sacrificing her physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual health to serve her family is not a pathway to long-term success or significance.

One of the things I love about Heidi is that she has learned to say, “I’m sorry, I can’t do that.” Or, “I’m sorry, I won’t do that.” Or, “Screw you, go do it yourself.” (Okay, so I’m still working on helping her say that last one.)

For some reason, moms feel the pressure to be perfect. If you struggle with this, please stop.

Perfectionism will either hold you back from attempting the hard stuff, or it will erode your family’s ability to trust your authenticity.

Reject the pressure to be perfect. Embrace your opportunity to try and fail – in motherhood and most everything else.

Life is one big experiment. Do your best, own your results, and iterate.

Conclusion:

So, I guess the title of this post is wrong. This wasn’t a mom fail, but a great mom success. Heidi’s face-plant reminds us to:

  1. Prioritize Quantity Time.
  2. Foster an Encouraging Environment.
  3. Embrace Failure and Try Again.

Have another example of a failure turned success? Please share it with us by posting a comment below.

Encouraged by this post? Please like and share it on your social channels right now!

Thanks for reading,
Josh

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