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There Is No One Right Way to Raise a Child: What Global Parenting Teaches Us About Mom Guilt
Hi love, welcome back to Here With You, Mama. Today’s episode might feel like a breath you didn’t know you were holding.
We’re exploring a question so many mothers quietly wrestle with:
If every culture parents differently, and if children thrive across wildly different approaches… then why are we still chasing the illusion of a “perfect” mother?
In this conversation, we travel around the world to Denmark, Japan, France, various African cultures, and Pacific Island communities, to highlight how dramatically parenting norms shift based on culture, environment, values, and tradition. Sleep practices, feeding philosophies, independence, co-sleeping, baby wearing, discipline, socialization, schedules… every country does it differently.
And yet their children grow up healthy, secure, and deeply loved.
This episode pulls back the curtain on the truth most mothers never hear:
There is no universal gold standard for parenting.
There is no one right way to mother.
There is only the way that fits your child, your family, and your values.
You’ll hear stories from my work with clients, emotional reflections on comparison, and practical guidance for releasing the guilt that comes from feeling like you’re “not doing it right.”
My hope is that you leave today feeling lighter, more grounded, and more confident in the mother you already are.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
1. Why global parenting norms completely contradict each other
We explore outdoor naps in Denmark, co-sleeping in Japan, baby wearing in African cultures, French food philosophy, and Pacific Island approaches to toddler independence, and how these differences reveal a critical truth: There is no single correct approach to raising a child.
2. How cultural expectations shape our ideas about “good motherhood”
You’ll learn why so many moms feel like they’re failing, even when they’re doing everything right, and how comparison intensifies guilt in the age of social media.
3. Why your child’s uniqueness matters more than any parenting method
Temperament, developmental needs, sensory differences, and family structure all influence what actually works for your child.
4. How to begin trusting your instincts instead of outside opinions
We talk about making decisions from intuition, values, capacity, and connection, not pressure or fear.
5. Why the myth of the perfect mother doesn’t exist anywhere in the world
And how letting go of this impossible standard opens the door to more joy, presence, and confidence in motherhood.
Key Takeaways
If You’re Struggling With Mom Guilt, Comparison, or Feeling Like You’re Doing It Wrong…
This episode will feel like a permission slip to exhale.
To trust yourself.
To soften.
To take back the power you’ve given to outside standards.
You’re not alone, mama. And you’re not failing: you’re learning, adapting, and doing the best you can with what you have. And that is more than enough.
Links & Resources
🎧 Listen to past episodes on mom guilt, emotional load, and identity:
💛 Connect with me on Instagram: @herewithyoumama
💛 Download the Grounded Mama Checklist
💛 Join the Here With You, Mama community
If this episode spoke to you…
Please take a moment to rate, review, and share the podcast.
Your words help other moms find this kind of support when they need it most.
And remember, love:
You are the perfect mother for your child. Not because you do it all right, but because you show up, love deeply, and try your best.
I’m here with you. Always. 💛
Transcript for this episode
Blog post for this episode
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By Dina TamresHi love, welcome back to Here With You, Mama. Today’s episode might feel like a breath you didn’t know you were holding.
We’re exploring a question so many mothers quietly wrestle with:
If every culture parents differently, and if children thrive across wildly different approaches… then why are we still chasing the illusion of a “perfect” mother?
In this conversation, we travel around the world to Denmark, Japan, France, various African cultures, and Pacific Island communities, to highlight how dramatically parenting norms shift based on culture, environment, values, and tradition. Sleep practices, feeding philosophies, independence, co-sleeping, baby wearing, discipline, socialization, schedules… every country does it differently.
And yet their children grow up healthy, secure, and deeply loved.
This episode pulls back the curtain on the truth most mothers never hear:
There is no universal gold standard for parenting.
There is no one right way to mother.
There is only the way that fits your child, your family, and your values.
You’ll hear stories from my work with clients, emotional reflections on comparison, and practical guidance for releasing the guilt that comes from feeling like you’re “not doing it right.”
My hope is that you leave today feeling lighter, more grounded, and more confident in the mother you already are.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
1. Why global parenting norms completely contradict each other
We explore outdoor naps in Denmark, co-sleeping in Japan, baby wearing in African cultures, French food philosophy, and Pacific Island approaches to toddler independence, and how these differences reveal a critical truth: There is no single correct approach to raising a child.
2. How cultural expectations shape our ideas about “good motherhood”
You’ll learn why so many moms feel like they’re failing, even when they’re doing everything right, and how comparison intensifies guilt in the age of social media.
3. Why your child’s uniqueness matters more than any parenting method
Temperament, developmental needs, sensory differences, and family structure all influence what actually works for your child.
4. How to begin trusting your instincts instead of outside opinions
We talk about making decisions from intuition, values, capacity, and connection, not pressure or fear.
5. Why the myth of the perfect mother doesn’t exist anywhere in the world
And how letting go of this impossible standard opens the door to more joy, presence, and confidence in motherhood.
Key Takeaways
If You’re Struggling With Mom Guilt, Comparison, or Feeling Like You’re Doing It Wrong…
This episode will feel like a permission slip to exhale.
To trust yourself.
To soften.
To take back the power you’ve given to outside standards.
You’re not alone, mama. And you’re not failing: you’re learning, adapting, and doing the best you can with what you have. And that is more than enough.
Links & Resources
🎧 Listen to past episodes on mom guilt, emotional load, and identity:
💛 Connect with me on Instagram: @herewithyoumama
💛 Download the Grounded Mama Checklist
💛 Join the Here With You, Mama community
If this episode spoke to you…
Please take a moment to rate, review, and share the podcast.
Your words help other moms find this kind of support when they need it most.
And remember, love:
You are the perfect mother for your child. Not because you do it all right, but because you show up, love deeply, and try your best.
I’m here with you. Always. 💛
Transcript for this episode
Blog post for this episode