No more Mommy Guilt part 2

image taken from ecochiclife(dot)net

With Mother's Day around the corner, I thought that now would be a good time to discuss 'Mommy guilt' again.

1. Stop comparing. So what Johnny is potty trained at 12 months old and Samantha can read at age 2. The only thing that matters is that you love your child as best you can and as much as they need. Besides, every child develops differently. Comparing two children's developments is like comparing apples to oranges. Stop it!

2. You're going to make mistakes. News flash: you're human. So you will put a diaper on backwards (or am I the only one who's done that?), forget to pull the meat out the freezer and have to get fast food, and

3. You are not responsible for everything your child does. If you're child get straight A's on their report card or shot the winning goal for the championship game, would you take credit? Then why is it your fault when they make bad decisions? It's our responsibility to teach them the right way. It's their responsibility to follow that advice.

4. Try to find harmony instead of balance. You will never be able to spend equal amounts of time in each important area of your life. Sometimes you'll miss that recital for a work deadline. But with harmony, you will be able to put the time in each area of your life as needed. So you may miss this week's game but make the Homecoming game. You may work late and miss putting them to bed but get them up and dressed for school every morning. Harmony is the key.

5. Celebrate those wins, no matter how 'small'. Okay, so the dishes are piling in the sink, the laundry isn't folded and the beds aren't made. But your little one is sitting in your lap, laughing at the faces you're making. Win! As long as you do the best by that child, and they are happy, you've won!

6. You deserve a break. If you are overworked, sleep deprived and in a generally bad mood, how can you keep your child happy? How can you give them your best when you have nothing left to give? In parenthood, we are constantly pouring from our cups, giving and giving to our children. We MUST refill our cup to keep giving. So let the kids stay with dad and go to a spa, spend the night in a hotel room alone with the cell phone on silent, or just take a warm bubble bath with a glass of wine and a good book. You deserve it.

7. Children are very forgiving. The other day, when picking up my toddler, I scratched his face and poked him in the eye. Great parenting, right? But before I could even apologize, he yelled out: 'I'm okay!!!'. Our children know we love them. So if they get a bad haircut, their white shirt is now pink from the wash, or you got shampoo in their eyes, they forgive you. And they love you.

Until next time!
Cherise, the Mompreneur