Hey, Moms. I don’t know about you, but sometimes it sounds like this in my head:
Does my child have too much screen time?
Am I home enough with my children? Is it wrong that I hide from my kids?
Am I am good mom?
I need a break.
There isn’t enough time in the day.
Being a mom has some really wonderful moments. But sometimes our Mom Guilt gets in the way of us enjoying the wonderful parts – and also negatively impacts our mental health, making it even harder for us to enjoy the perks of parenthood.
Here are some tips to help you shift your negative feelings about where you are in life and how you’re doing as a mom, and channel some positive energy into your life and your relationship with your children.
Understand this: there are NO “perfect” moms
- In some ways, us moms are all in the same boat. And this is the boat: We do our best to care for our children and show them love and support. We learn from our past, and we learn as we go. And none of us are perfect. You just really need to hear that, and remind yourself of that. If you’re reaching for perfect, you’re always going to feel guilty.
Stop social media comparing
- Social media can paint a fabulous façade of a perfect life. In fact – It’s one of the things that makes us feel like there are “perfect” moms. Start recognizing when you’re comparing yourself to other moms, and pay attention to the impact seeing perfect looking family pictures has on your mental health (…and anxious feelings, and depressive feelings, and etc…)
Recognize Your Strengths
- Us Moms are really great at negative self talk. Start allowing yourself to experience positive self talk. You work really hard. You do a lot. You love your babies. Let yourself see those things, too.
Make Space for You
- Part of being able to maintain all your different roles involves taking care of yourself. Do something for yourself, go for a walk, go get a cup of tea or coffee, take a bath, or just go sit in the park (without your children). Creating space where you’re not on mom duty will help you stay centered(ish) when there’s chaos around you.
Make Good Memories
- Creating positive memories and interactions with your children can help you feel more positive about your role as a Mom. Cherish positive moments you enjoy with your kids, praise them for the things they do well and enjoy the time that you spend with them. Creating an environment about fondness and admiration with your children will enhance your experience as a Mom
Create Community
- It helps to talk to someone that is experiencing what you are experiencing. Creating a community of people who know what you’re going through will help you feel more connected. Be an ear for someone and be ok with someone being an ear for you. Your Mom Guilt is a normal response to the demands of parenting, and you don’t need to be alone in that. You got this.
Need help working through your own Mom Guilt? Schedule your free 15-minute consultation here to chat with me about how you work through it!