Letting go of mom guilt could be the best Mother’s Day gift to yourself
MANILA, Philippines – Are you a new mom who feels that you may not be doing enough for your baby? Are you suffering from the so-called guilty-mom syndrome or mom guilt?
This Mother’s Day, take a break and release the guilt. It’s not the time to nurture the negativity. Let this be your precious gift to yourself, and even to your family, for the occasion. Let go of the awful feeling and see the more vibrant side of being a mom.
We’ve put together a few pieces of advice capped with a touching video to help you conquer your worries.
You’re not super
You can be the strongest mom ever but reality will tell you that you aren’t super. You can’t do everything on your own. You’re not all-knowing. You’re not immortal. You can’t be there always to be with your baby when he or she cries or falls. And it’s okay. What’s important is you don’t waste time doing your best as a mother.
Mistakes are inevitable
Who earns a degree on motherhood? No one. That means you’re not an expert when you became a mom. It’s normal then to commit mistakes, but don’t bitterly dwell on them. Instead, move on and learn from them. You’d then see yourself growing in motherhood, becoming better and better, slowly but surely. Just take it easy.
Enjoy the process
Many times you feel that you are doing too much or not enough for your child. And you become tired of the vicious cycle of the feeling going away only to go back again. Medical website WebMD says you just enjoy the process. And here’s how they put it: “The truth is that a mom who knows how to relax with her child and enjoy the process is likely to be happier within herself, and therefore, a better mom.”
Hold your baby in your arms
Instead of sweating the small stuff and entertaining stressful thoughts, focus on the one thing you can always do: share affection with your little one. Here’s a video from baby care products maker Johnson’s Baby that beautifully and perfectly illustrates this point:
Believe it or not, your touch is enough in your child’s eyes. It’s regardless of how guilty you feel as a single mom, a working mom, a mom with disabilities, an inexperienced mom, or what have you. Babies feel safe with a mother’s touch. It also helps them grow healthy and strong. So, get rid of the guilt and just love your baby the best way you can. Happy Mother’s Day!
