Motherhood is the hardest, most challenging thing I’ve ever experienced. Moms worry and question every single thing. I guess it is the overwhelming feeling of knowing your baby fully depends on you for EVERYTHING! Yes, moms are constantly feeling guilt because things are not always perfect. Life can be hard sometimes. So, here are the Top 5 Reasons Why Mothers Feel Guilty All The time.
Top 5 Reasons Why Mothers Feel Guilty All The Time
I used to feel guilty about certain little things, like not calling my parents as often as I should, or being mean to my husband. But after becoming a mom, I started feeling guilty every single day! The guilt I started to experience when I became a mom was something I had never felt before.
Motherhood is so hard. You body changes, and your emotions also change. I now cry for everything! Even TV commercials! I guess, you become overwhelmed with feelings of love and happiness. Becoming a mother made me experience what true unconditional love really is.
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Becoming a mother definitely made me experience a lot of guilt. You start questioning if you are doing things the right way, and feel guilty every time things do not go as planed. You want everything to be perfect, and reality is life is not like that. And you need to learn to be at peace with yourself knowing you are the doing the best you can. And that it totally fine.
So, Here Are The Top 5 Reasons Why Mothers Feel Guilty All The Time:
1. Breastfeeding
It was so hard for me. Both times. I tried really hard, I read many books. I talked to breastfeeding experts. But I only breastfed exclusively for a few months. It was too stressful to me, I was just going crazy and felt anxious (read my story). I believe breastfeeding doesn’t come natural to everyone. Definitely not to me. And so I started giving formula to my babies. And felt so guilty. Many moms have shared the same feeling with me. They feel like they are horrible mothers. But we are not. We are all different, and breastfeeding is REALLY hard! What is best for your baby is a happy mom. A happy mom enjoying her baby.
2. Co-sleeping
I never left my babies crying in their cribs. I just couldn’t do it. Instead, they slept with me in my bed. And even though parenting experts tell you there is nothing wrong with co-sleeping, I felt guilty. Have I failed to teach him to sleep properly? I know it makes no sense but society tells you that your kids belong in their own room. You hear your parent stories about how you were such a “good” baby sleeping in your own room. That co-sleeping is going to ruin your marriage. And you feel extremely guilty. Mothers feel guilty all the time even at night!
3. Going back to work
I think this is the hardest thing I had to do when I had my first child. He was only 3 months old and I had to go back to work full-time. I could not stop feeling guilty thinking he needed me at every hour, every minute, every second. And then your family telling you that the situation is terrible. That it didn’t use to be that way in the old times. The worst part? You like your job, and it is nice to get out of the house after a while. GUILTY, GUILTY, GUILTY.
4. Not being a crafty mom
I never created baby albums, or kept any pieces of clothing, or first baby’s first toys. I can’t even remember what was my son’s first word, or the exact date when my daughter took her first steps. GUILTY. I don’t do enough mindful parenting or crafts, and I will regret it one day when my kids ask me about them. Taking care of my kids, doing laundry, cooking, and remembering special events is more than enough work for me. GUILTY.
5. Dreaming about some time for yourself
I want to take a day for myself and forget for a few hours that I am a mom. Actually, my ultimate fantasy is to go on vacation. To a hotel room. On my own. For a few days! This is when I feel so guilty, selfish and ungrateful. I have a beautiful family, and I should be with them all the time. I should enjoy each day, each moment, because they grow up so fast. GUILTY.
Top 5 Reasons Why Moms Feel Guilty Video
I am a mother of two children, ages 3 and 8. Motherhood has been the most challenging but rewarding experience of my life. And we mothers feel guilty all the time. I’ve made tons of mistakes, and I still make them. There is no perfect mom in this world. But I know that at the end, what matters most is love. Love your kids and everything will be just fine.
I am sure that by reading this Top 5 Reasons Why Mothers Feel Guilty All The time post, you can relate with some of the things I feel most guilty about. I would love to know what others things moms feel guilty about. Please share them in a comment below.
If you are interested in reading more about my blog, please take a look at my latest articles. I am a mom blogger who loves to share creative recipes, and tips for living a healthy family lifestyle.
Donna says
I remember feeling guilty about going back to work when my daughter was 4 months old. a few of neighbors husbands worked 2 jobs so that they could stay home. I really envied them.
Creative And Healthy Fun Food says
Thank you for your comment. That is a hard one. I was feeling very guilty about it too.
Sonal Gohel says
Hello
I read your story and it feel same..I feel guilty all the time..because I have 3 year old boy..when he was born we r at my in-laws house…because of so many reason I don’t have time for my baby..and for that everyday I feel guilty..in join family u have to finish so much other work and in our India culture daughter in law is like servent…now we r not with them but I feel when I baby need me I have no time for him..even I never take him out..it’s unbelievable but 2 year old boy never go out..even library too… Here I feel guilty and after move to our own place I want to take him out but this boy used too with stay in home..because before we r in cage…we see this beautiful world from my in laws house..if we go out people use bad word..so I feel guilty everyday why I m too much scared of people I have to think for my baby..I loose my time..I can’t get it back now …guilty
Tanu says
I just got angry at my 2.5 years old for not going to sleep on time. Its work next morning and he was just playing the fool around with me telling him to please go to sleep, come we l sleep but na and then i lost it. I spoke to him angrily and he laughed and i really got angry and scolded him more and he started crying. His father came he complained about me that i hit him and went off to sleep with him in a minute. I am almost mad at the moment and feel like killing myself outta guilt.
Creative Healthy Family says
I understand how you feel. I am a mother of two and my kids push my limits all the time. I feel guilty sometimes too but know that it is normal and we are always trying to be better moms 🙂
Patty says
I have bad news. They grow up, but the guilt remains! You second guess yourself on what you could of, should of done. No matter you are a thinking experienced adult that raised different children needing different things. You were learning on the most important job ever! You intellectually may know you did the best you could with the tools, knowledge, strength you had at the time, yet you continue to mull over things, forever making your childrens level of happiness contingent on your own.
Creative Healthy Family says
Thank you for your comment. I know right? They grow up but the guilt remains!
Glenna says
Yes you are sooo right. I too felt that way, and to this day I still feel like that. I love my boys more than life itself. And I will do whatever it takes to make them feel safe in this world. I am like a cougar protecting her cubs. We as mothers, have to protect our kids, against all the horrible things that happen in this world. And at times my kids push my buttons and get me angry with them, but then that feeling passes and I go and hug them and tell them how much I love them.
Dee says
THANK YOU! THANK YOU for writing this! I felt terribly guilty AND ALONE when I couldn’t breastfeed. I just wasn’t able to produce for either of my children. But they thrived on formula and are big strong healthy young men now. And the rest of your list was spot on. I feel validated! We just can’t do it all. That’s a hard fact to process sometimes. But you’ve made me feel like a better mum. Thank you for sharing this. You made my day. Maybe my week!