One of the most challenging aspects of motherhood—and of being a woman or an emotional individual—is guilt. Particularly, the phenomenon known as mom guilt. This type of guilt permeates every facet of our lives; it’s not just about our relationships with our children but extends to how we feel about our partners, parents, co-workers, and friends. It’s a relentless parade of guilt that marches through our minds day after day.
Sometimes, through sheer determination, we manage to push some of that mom guilt aside, and it feels liberating. But then we often find ourselves working even harder to fend off a new wave of guilt that seeks to take its place.
If you regularly experience mom guilt—whether it’s because you dread playing make-believe with your three-year-old, or because you love your job but it takes you away from home, or because your kids’ grandparents want to visit during a pandemic and you’re not ready to say yes—we understand. Mom guilt is exhausting. It weighs us down, impacts our mental well-being, and makes us doubt our abilities, even when we’re genuinely doing our best. Let’s unite to combat this together.
Since transitioning to working from home, I find myself increasingly frustrated as the kids constantly interrupt my work. During Zoom meetings, their persistent demands make concentrating nearly impossible, and then I feel guilty for being annoyed. (Confessional #25781338)
I often find myself short-tempered with my son lately. (Confessional #25780463) I feel a pang of guilt when I read posts from others who seem so happy to be spending every moment with their children. It’s not that I don’t enjoy their company; I just need a break, but the only escape is a trip to the grocery store. (Confessional #25778477)
I’m grateful that both my partner and I have jobs, especially during this time. Yet, juggling work-from-home responsibilities while trying to homeschool two kids and keep them entertained every single day is overwhelming. I feel guilty for not being able to do it all. (Confessional #25776600)
The new wave of quarantine mom guilt is particularly trying! We’re tasked with the impossible while feeling guilty for not measuring up. (Confessional #25781563)
My mom constantly expresses her disappointment over not seeing the grandkids, which adds to my stress. I think it might be best if we take a break from talking for a while. (Confessional #25780744)
Even our furry companions can add to this guilt—sometimes I can’t stand my dogs and feel terrible for it. (Confessional #25781595)
It’s hard not to feel guilty about everything from wanting to simplify chores, like considering paper plates during quarantine, to wishing for a different life path. (Confessional #25777641)
We even feel guilty if we’re lucky enough to have job opportunities while friends are facing layoffs. (Confessional #25773202)
What’s important to recognize is that we must break this cycle. We don’t want our children to grow up burdened by guilt. So, we need to stop being so hard on ourselves for things beyond our control. Motherhood is inherently difficult, and the added pressures of a pandemic only exacerbate that.
This ongoing guilt is detrimental to our mental health, and we deserve to let it go—for our sake and for our children’s. Let’s commit to reducing it for good.
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In summary, motherhood comes with its unique set of challenges, particularly during these unprecedented times. Embracing honesty about our struggles can be incredibly validating, and it’s essential to recognize that it’s perfectly okay to seek relief from guilt.
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