There’s a phrase I come back to again and again with my kids—so often that it’s practically become a family motto:
“Be better today than you were yesterday.”
It’s more than just a catchy saying. It’s the foundation of how I live my life, and one of the most important lessons I hope to pass on to my children.
This Lesson Comes from My Own Story
I didn’t come up with this idea from a parenting book or a motivational quote. I learned it through my own recovery journey. I’m sober today—and that means everything.
Because I’m sober today, I get to have better days. I get to wake up and choose growth. I get to mess up and still move forward. I get to show my kids that mistakes don’t define us, and the past doesn’t get the final say.
The only moment that truly matters? Right now.
That’s the lesson I try to weave into our everyday lives. Whether it’s about how we treat people, how we handle tough emotions, or how we clean up after ourselves—there’s always room to do a little better today than we did yesterday.
Progress Over Perfection
I don’t expect perfection from my kids—just like I don’t expect it from myself. I’ve learned through recovery that growth is not a straight line. Some days are harder than others. Some days feel like a step backward. And that’s okay.
What matters is that we keep showing up. We keep trying. We keep choosing to move forward, even if it’s just by an inch.
Everyday Reminders
Sometimes it looks like my son choosing to take a deep breath instead of yelling. Sometimes it’s my daughter trying again after getting frustrated with her homework. And sometimes it’s me—choosing to respond with patience instead of reacting with stress.
These moments may seem small, but they’re where growth lives.
And yes, I’m that mom yelling “Be better today than yesterday!” out the minivan door in the school drop-off line like it’s our family battle cry. (Hey, if I’m gonna be a cliché, I’m gonna own it.)
The Gift of Now
One of the most beautiful things recovery has taught me is that we are not our past. We are not our mistakes. We are not our worst days.
We are who we choose to be today.
That’s what I want my children to know deep down in their bones. That no matter what yesterday looked like, today holds the power to be better. And that they are never stuck—they are always becoming.
So here’s to today.
A fresh start.
A second chance.
A better version of who we were yesterday.
And for that, I’m incredibly grateful.
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