There are a lot of things that can make your life easier as a mother! A daily nap, hot coffee, a visit to salon, going to bathroom alone (oh! Who am I kidding, right?). Well, among all these there is one thing that can certainly make our lives easier as a mother – Mom Guilt.
Yes, imagine letting go of all the guilt you feel as a mom! Relief right? The bruised knees, French fries or maggi for dinner, too much sugar, not enough reading time, not spending one on one time….and we can go on and on with the never ending list.
It does make total sense to feel the guilt, because when you love someone so strongly, you want to give them nothing but the best. But, of all the things that you worry about as a mom, there are some that you must not allow yourself to feel guilty about! Ever.
Here are some things that you can stop feeling guilty about right away!
- The way you feed your baby
Whether you offered your baby a sore, cracked breast countless times a day or you carefully measured and mixed formula to feed your baby – you fed them. You provided them the nourishment they needed to develop and grow either ways. And that’s what matters. So give yourself a pat on the back and stop feeling guilty about it!
- How you gave birth!
Most of us have no say in the type of birth we had or will have. Many a times it is so fast that we barely get the time to have our preference and sometimes it is a matter of life and death. On the other hand, some of us get to deliver the baby just the way we dreamed of and everything goes as planned. What matters is you giving birth to a baby. Whether you had a C-section, vaginal birth or whatever, you are a mother who nurtured and took care of your baby for nine months. Look at what you have created and stop feeling guilty about the choices you made!
- Having a messy house
We all have messy homes, especially when they are filled with children. Piles of laundry on your couch? That means you are providing your family clean clothes to wear. Sink full of dirty dishes? Your family is fed. Stop saying sorry for a messy house. Crayons scribbled on the wall, puzzle pieces on floor and blocks on the dining table imply only one thing. That is your kids are getting an opportunity to learn, play and grow.
- Being a stay at home or a working mom
Whether we are a stay at home mom or working a full time job, we all are working round the clock and diligently for giving our best to our families. Whether you made that choice or it was a necessity, you are providing for your kids the best way you can and that mama, is nothing less than being perfect!
- Taking some me time
More often than not, we stop being the person that we were when we gave birth. For many, being a mother means letting go of who we were before. Not reading anything besides children’s books, no more going out unless it is for the family or a visit to the salon becoming a luxury rather than a basic necessity. A happy mom is a good mom. So, if spending some time doing what you love and taking a break means coming back to your kids fresh and more energetic, then what is the harm? Your happiness affects your kids happiness, so stop feeling guilty about taking a break! You deserve it!
Remember, our kids learn by example and they are constantly watching us. So, inculcating self-love in your own lives will teach our kids to love themselves. Let go of the weight of guilt and take a breath!
Parenting & More By Disha Sethi 