Rise Up, Mamas!

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!

Hey there, my mama friend!

Today's show is focused on the #1 killer of progress in life… comparison!

"Mamas, it's time to stop competing and start leading!" ~TS

We all have unique gifts and talents to share with the world. Each of us was chosen specifically by God to be the mother of OUR children. No one can do a better job at that as long as we are tapping into those gifts. But it's up to US to step into that power!

We must stop comparing our chapter 2 to someone else's chapter 15, 22, or even 52.

In the podcast I share a personal account of how I tried to compete with my mother-in-law a few years into my marriage. Rather than allowing her to share the wisdom and life experience that could help me grow as a mom, I was focused on trying to become her! Fact: your mother or mother-in-law is WAY ahead of you in the game of life and they are experts in things you are not. There's nothing you can do to change that. So, you might as well embrace it. Thankfully, I learned my lesson quickly and did just that. Be sure to catch Episode 1 to hear the full story!

But we do that as women, right? We compare ourselves to our moms, mothers-in-law, friends, family, and even women on social media whom we've never met. WHY do we do this? I personally feel it has become an issue more because of social media. These platforms were originally designed for us to connect with others and share moments of our REAL lives. However, once the concept of filters, emoticons, GIFs, and even music playlists came along, all of that changed. I was as if these platforms encouraged us to feel as if we needed to enhance our posts with these things. As if our real lives weren't good enough.

Just remember, God created you for your own specific journey. He gave you all the tools and gifts needed to mother YOUR children. You know what makes your child laugh, cry, feel afraid, and feel angry. You also know how to address those feelings best, if you're in tune with your child and invested in their well-being.

So, I encourage you, rather than competing with women around you, watch them, listen to them, learn from them, but never feel as if you must become them. That's an impossible mission.

You CAN do this.

You were created to do this.

Stop competing and start leading!

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!

Practical strategies that will inspire, educate, and empower real women through the rollercoaster journey of motherhood. You'll gain insight on parenting topics such as discipline, self-care, potty training, picky eaters, balancing work and home life, and so much more.... based on the book Rise Up, Mamas! by award-winning author, Traci Sanders. It's time to get rid of the mom guilt and embrace the greatest role you'll ever play. No perfect moms allowed. Let's rise together!