Mom Guilt Doesn’t Go Away, It Evolves: Give it a Good Fight With These Tips

My first child was not even a few days old. I gently placed him in his brand new bassinet and stared down at his big eyes and head full of soft baby hair. He looked so delicate and sweet, and as I gazed upon his angel face I instantly thought:

“What the %$!# am I doing?”

This new feeling of self-doubt was what I would come to know as mom guilt. After that nagging voice introduced herself on that very day, she made it her full-time job to follow me around.

Related: 3 Mom Thoughts that Are Uncomfortable but Normal

When my children were babies, I wondered if I was doing it all right. What if my baby is hungry? What if I don’t realize something is wrong? Is my baby supposed to cry this much?

I was always comforted by the thought that soon I would know what I was doing and it would get easier.

Silly me.

As my kid became mobile, I had a whole new list of things to stress over. I’d wonder if my kid felt loved. Am I spending enough quality time with them? Am I on my phone too much?

That’s when it hit me. Mom guilt never goes away. It only evolves.

Ever-evolving Guilt

Guilt does serve a purpose in life.

Think all the back to caveman times. If Sally Cave-lady left her baby to go gallivanting through the jungle for two days, things would not turn out so well for the baby.

The problem is, us mothers are super sensitive to this feeling of guilt. And it often rears it’s head when it is not needed.

As your kids grow and develop, you will be faced with new challenges. For mothers, this means unchartered territory and more opportunities for self doubt.

3 Ways to Take a Jab at Mom Guilt

You will always be questioning yourself. That is what makes you such a great mother.

However, no matter what stage your child is at, if you do these three things you will have method for silencing the nagging.

1) Trust your instincts

Experts have shown that mother’s intuition is a real thing.

Take a deep breath. How do you really feel? Make a decision and go with it. There is a good chance that you know what is right for your kid.

2) Chill out a little

Your kids don’t need fancy dinners and clean floors. They need you to be happy (and these 7 other things).

Give yourself grace. Ask for help, hide away for a minute, or indulge in something you enjoy.

You are only human, and it is healthy for your kid to see that.

3) Connect with your kid

Studies show that even if you connect with your kid for 9 minutes a day, you will make a big impact on their confidence and emotional well-being.

Even if you are busy, take a few minutes to bond with your kid. You will both walk away feeling refreshed.

Final Thoughts

As my oldest son is creeping up on his pre-teen years, I found that I question myself even more than when he was that tiny newborn baby in the bassinet.

I imagine that even if I am alive when he is 80 years old, I will have some traces of mom guilt still lingering.

The trouble with mom guilt is that it doesn’t just go away. That tricky beast mutates and evolves as your kid gets older.

Do these 3 things to combat the ever-changing guilts of motherhood that are holding you back from the joy you deserve.

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