When my 7-year-old daughter, Maren, came home in tears, saying her teacher claimed I regretted having her, I was furious. But at school, the teacher calmly handed me a crumpled note—my handwriting. I had written it during a breakdown weeks ago: “Some days I wish I never had her.” I never meant for anyone to see it. Maren had unknowingly packed it in her lunch.

I was devastated. That note didn’t reflect how I truly felt—I love my daughter more than anything. I apologized to her at school, breaking down as I told her the truth: I had been overwhelmed, not by her, but by life. She looked at me with tears and asked, “Do you really wish you didn’t have me?” My heart shattered. “Never,” I said. “You’re the best thing in my life.”

I began making changes—therapy, time off work, asking for help. Slowly, Maren came back to life: drawing, singing, leaving sweet notes in my lunchbox like “You got this, Dad!” Her teacher later told me she called me her hero in class, with a drawing of me in a cape and the words: “My dad makes mistakes. But he always tries again.”

Life’s still messy—late mornings, burned dinners—but I’ve learned our kids don’t need perfection. They need our presence, honesty, and effort. If you’re a struggling parent, know this: you’re not alone. Your best, even on the hard days, is more than enough.