In a profession as demanding as ours, it can be tempting to strive for perfection — to anticipate everything, manage everything, succeed at everything. Yet, as Donald Winnicott, the renowned pediatrician and psychoanalyst, reminded us, children don’t need perfect figures — they need good enough ones.

Applied to education, this concept is deeply liberating. The “good enough” teacher provides a safe environment, genuine attention, and emotional availability — without trying to eliminate all frustration or control every outcome. They accept that some days will be less smooth, that some students will resist, that missteps will occur. Most importantly, they trust the process.

Far from harming students, these minor bumps are part of their growth: they help develop frustration tolerance, build emotional resilience, and allow children to grow in a world that may be imperfect — but remains dependable.

At LIFT, we embrace this human and grounded approach to teaching. Being a good teacher doesn’t mean being flawless — it means being present enough, attentive enough, fair enough… and having the courage, at times, to adapt and move forward with the unexpected.