How I Embraced Mom Guilt

On By MeghaIn Parenting

A couple of months ago, while locking horns with my 5-year-old I realized an unusual thing.

As children, we look up to our parents as being the ideal, perfect human beings who are never wrong and mean our wellness even when they scold or punish us.

But the day we become parents, we begin to see our parents as humans who were trying to be their best to make our lives wonderful.

Motherhood is messy. We moms aim to create a perfect life for our kids. Though the reality is we moms are imperfect, we are flawed. Parents are humans and humans are bound to make mistakes. It's okay to be a flawed parent. I am one and I accept it. t is SO hard to accept your flaws. And this is my journey of acceptance. #Parenting #Motherhood #Parentood #Momlife #SingleMother #momblogger #inspiration #quotestoliveby

This is a transformation that every parent goes through where we learn to see our parents in a kinder light after donning the cape of a parent.

But still, in our hearts, we never give up the yearning to play the ideal role models for our children.

The very notion of mommy guilt (not sure if there is anything like daddy guilt) revolves around this idea (or perhaps the desire) of being a perfect parent.

Plagued by self-doubt, burdened by our definition of what an ideal mother ought to do in any given situation, we mothers gauge our actions and score ourselves.

Needless to say, we don’t hesitate in being rather ruthless and choose to wallow in self-pity for being less than the best parent our children deserve.

I am no different.

But, have we ever stopped to reflect on this perpetual guilt to see why should we be suffering for being who we were born to be?

Why can’t we accept ourselves as we are and learn to live with this idea peacefully?

Maybe, cause we want our children to have the very best of everything. Ourselves included.

And best is most aptly conveniently described by ‘perfection’ despite our full knowledge of the fact that perfection is nothing but an illusion. In short, we parents are forever chasing an elusive version of ourselves and still want our children to believe that we are sane and perfect role models.

The most disturbing part of this whole equation is, our offspring are pretty content and very much in love with our present selves, but we keep denying it.

The outcome is, we’re chasing a mirage of an ideal parent, our children are chasing us hoping to hold on to us to make us believe that they truly, madly, deeply love us.

And instead of stopping to love our children we are floundering in our failures (that are nothing more than a figment of our imagination) and making our lives miserable with unfathomable guilt.

Motherhood, especially being a single mom often feels like a game of guilt management.

Often the guilt is overwhelming and debilitating.

Sometimes just a low simmer, but I can feel it burn right there. The inadequacy or rather the feeling of not being enough or good enough is ever ready to nourish the guilt.

All it does is to pump shame and a general feeling of incompetence despite our best efforts to be the loving, caring parents our children need.

Is the Mom Guilt worth losing our peace of mind over?

Hell NO!

Not very long ago, I was plagued by this idea of becoming a perfect parent and started beating myself up, emotionally, for failing to be the textbook example of the same.

I feared to ruin my child’s future just because I let her eat junk often, I am lax in my ways of disciplining her (being permissive at times) and so on. As you can imagine, I was a complete mess and as a result, my relationship with my child suffered big time.

One fine day, while I had Pari hug me tight, I uttered: “I’m a bad mommy”.

That was when Pari jolted me out of my reverie.

“No Mumma, you are a darling mummy. You do everything I love and that is all I ask for.”

It was then realization jolted me out of my slumber.

I am trying my best to make life work with whatever is in my control. My child is content with the life we lead and still, I’m not at a happy place.

What’s missing?

Simply the acknowledgement that life’s good in its flawed, imperfect form.

The rugged, cracked corners exist to allow the light of pure love to fill our lives.

That’s when turning to gratitude has proved helpful.

Every day, I am training myself to focus on the positives without wasting time or energy comparing them with the yardstick of an ‘ideal situation‘.

I’m beginning to love the flawed yet fabulous mother in me, just like my daughter does.

Yes, I still have my moments of self-doubt. Times when mom guilt comes raring at me. But I no longer fear it.

I have learnt to acknowledge my weaknesses.

I am now a confident mom who trusts herself (almost) as much as her child has faith in her goodwill.

I’ve embraced my insecurities and have made peace with mom guilt and my imperfect self for good.

What about you?

21 thoughts on “How I Embraced Mom Guilt”

  1. I am in complete agreement with you here! In fact, just recently I feel I have become the insane, screaming, horrible mother that I never wanted to be. And, actually, my daughters still come running to me for cuddles, they are not afraid of me, and they still tell me that they love me. So I must be doing something right! Why do we do this to ourselves?!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hugs to you SpookyMrsGreen
      I know exactly what you’re saying because I have been there, felt that. Grant yourself acceptance of yourself with all your awesomeness & shortcomings and maybe then you’ll feel calmer than you do now.
      Mommy, believe, that you’re doing your best. Keep going ❤

      Liked by 1 person

  2. And on days you don’t do so well – the fact that you are willing to try to be better the next day – makes you amazing.

    The thing is we grow with our kids, but we will never be flawless coz else life would be way too boring. What’s life without a fight or a tear right?

    Like

  3. Mommy guilty is just a passing cloud..The mothers love is selfless and kids do realize it when they are matured enough to understand what mom is doing. My mom is a single mother and I have seen a courageous lady doing everything singly.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. So very true Saritha. Our kids are our guiding light and they mature way faster than we give them credit for. My 5-year-old says such wise things that don’t strike me even at my age.
      I am hoping to do just enough for my child too.
      Hugs ❤

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Preethi

    How wonderfully written ME! I can’t say in words how much I loved this post of yours. It’s kind of an eye-opener for me.

    Glad to see you active again on the blog..

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much for the love Preethi ❤
      I am glad to be back to writing the way I love and yes, pouring my heart out is making me feel heaps happier.

      Like

  5. Satori

    This post is the best example of why I keep coming back to reading your blog!
    Was nodding my head with every single sentence. I am truly floored by the clarity of your thoughts and writing! Thanks, ME!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. U know what, I hadn’t read this before my last comment. And here you are doing it again.
    I am so freakishly guilt ridden when it comes to being a mom, that I cannot get over it. This is the one thing I see and feel that I should be doing better all the time. And quite honestly there are times I feel that my efforts are genuine. But most often they fall short of my own expectations. Zo seems to feel otherwise, which is the only saving grace.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I guess we mums are conditioned to go out of our way to love and care for our kids yet feel inadequate about it. Let’s try to change that enjoy every moment guilt free basking in hope that our kids will eventually understand our reasons.

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  7. I am not a parent but I understand the anxiety of wanting to be perfect. I always thought life is going to be perfect with a great work-life balance, a great job etc. And I always tried to be perfect by doing exactly what made others happy. Only recently have I started questioning that by asking, “Do I really want to do it?” or “What do I want?” And yes, life is great in it’s flawed form and the sooner we accept the happier we will be! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Welcome to my blog Suman 🙂
      I agree, these questions of “Am I doing enough?” have a way of touching everyone in every role. But what really makes a difference is our investment in emotional well-being to be able to face all these questions in a satisfactory way 🙂

      Like

  8. I cannot give an advice but I know that if we remain the best version of ourselves with children, they will learn good things. Just my take and may be I am wrong 😉
    All the best with the challenge and like you I have no theme. I put a theme around AtoZ but I prefer NaBloPoMo free flowing. It works well for my mind that way 🙂 Good luck!

    Liked by 1 person

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