Hey there, my mama friend!

Today's show is all about how to minimize the mom guilt we all carry around like a monkey on our backs.

Mom guilt is a very real thing, and every mom experiences it in different ways and to different extremes.

We can feel guilty for spending too little (neglect/avoidance) or too much (hoovering) time with our kids. We can feel guilty for feeding them too much or too little, or the wrong things. We can feel guilty for working too much or not contributing to the household and showing our kids it's okay to have a career and family.

As if we're not hard enough on ourselves about these things, we also allow others to add to our guilty tabs.

"It's bad enough we moms carry around a cup of mom guilt, but what's worse is we allow others to pour into that cup!!" ~TS

Our spouses can cause us to feel guilty by saying things like: You need to slow down, you're doing too much, or You're not superwoman, or maybe you should back off your business for a bit and focus on the kids.

Our children can add to our guilt by acting out in ways that we don't approve of, to get our attention. They can become distant or defiant, or they can become clingy and needy.

So, what's a mom supposed to do to ease this burden of guilt?

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Give yourself some grace. Remind yourself you're doing the best you can for your child.
2. Connect with some like-minded moms for encouragement, support, and sharing of ideas. Everyone is an expert in something you're not.
3. Never take parenting advice from someone who you don't respect as a parent. You don't have to be rude, but you also don't have to heed their advice.
4. Pay attention to your energy. Focus on giving your best to whatever task you're doing, whether that's cleaning house, spending time with your kids, or working your business. Learn to find peace in whatever you're putting your energy toward in any given moment.
5. Pay attention to your child's energy. Talk through things often, and learn when to back off and when to pull closer.
6. Reach out for help if you need it – a family member, your spouse, or even professional help. It's okay to not be okay, but it's not okay to stay in that place.
7. Learn to let go and be okay with not being able to be everything to everyone.

If we don't learn to stop these patterns in our behavior now, we very well could pass them onto our children in their parenting methods when they grow up.

And don't we always want better for our kids?

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope to meet you right back here next time so we can rise up together!

Be sure to grab my book Rise Up, Mamas! if you'd like more insight for your parenting journey. https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Up-Mamas-Parent-During-ebook/dp/B087BHJ7NH/ref=sr_1_1

If you'd like to connect with awesome moms who are going through some of the same challenges as you, be sure to check out my free Facebook group here: Rise Up, Mamas!