Okay, let’s talk about something that pretty much every mom feels at some point—mom guilt. Yep, the all-encompassing, heart-tugging feeling that you’re always doing something wrong, even when you’re trying your hardest to do everything right. It’s like this invisible weight that no one really talks about but that we all carry around like a bag of bricks. And trust me, it doesn’t matter how many times I say, “I’ve got this!”—it always sneaks up on me when I least expect it.
Take the other day, for example. I was in the middle of trying to get Molly’s hair brushed (which, by the way, is like trying to wrangle a very angry cat), and Lincoln needed help with some school project that I had no idea what to do with. And then there’s Jenny, who wanted to talk about some drama with her friends, and of course, everyone needed snacks—right now. I was already four steps behind, juggling all of it, when I realized I hadn’t even thought about dinner yet. That’s when the guilt hits: “Am I failing them?” “Am I not being the best mom I can be?”
It’s constant. From forgetting to sign the permission slip (oops, sorry, Jenny) to feeling like I haven’t spent enough one-on-one time with Lincoln, or hearing Molly’s tiny voice ask, “Mom, can you play with me?” while I’m deep in my to-do list. And I don’t know about you, but my brain doesn’t stop. It’s like, “Hey, remember you haven’t called the dentist yet?” or “You forgot to buy toilet paper…again.”
But here’s the thing: I’ve learned that the guilt isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes, it’s a reminder to slow down, be present, and just breathe for a second. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle, but those little moments, like when Lincoln hugs me for no reason or Molly tells me she loves me “so, so much,” make all the chaos feel worth it.
Honestly, I’ve started embracing that the guilt isn’t something to fix. I used to think I had to do everything perfectly, but I realized it’s about doing my best and letting the rest slide. That’s how I’m learning to deal with it. It’s more about remembering that I’m doing enough, even if everything isn’t perfect (and let’s be real, nothing is). Every time the guilt creeps in, I just remind myself that I’m trying, I’m showing up, and that’s what really matters.
At the end of the day, it’s okay to feel guilty. It’s okay to mess up. It doesn’t make you any less of a mom. And for all the times I feel like I’m juggling a million things, it’s important to give myself some grace. After all, I’m doing the best I can with what I have—and that’s enough.