Mom Guilt.

From the minute you announce you’re pregnant, there is a raging river of advice that comes at you from all angles and really never ends. There is one thing however, that people neglect to tell you about, and that is "mom guilt". For those of you who haven’t’ experienced it yet, hang on to your heel ladies (or flats, I don’t judge) because it is THE WOOOOOORST (cue deep, intense monster voice). Personally, I experience mom guilt at least 5 times a day. “Was his dinner well balanced enough? Did he feel abandoned when I dropped him off at daycare today? Was he in the car seat too long?!” All of these crazy questions run through my head at all times and it can literally make you sick.

Speaking of sick, I have had walking pneumonia for about a week now. In an effort to keep my son healthy, I quarantine myself. Yeah, that means no contact except waves and blown kisses. I know it’s what’s best for him, but mom guilt has definitely set in to the max and I find myself wondering if there will be long-term damage. I mean all he has seen in the last week is his mother in bed waving at him. My husband (aka Super Dad...no seriously.) has been responsible for everything lately, including my nighttime routine. This is the one special time each night that Landon and I spend together after I’ve been at work all day. It’s a time that we both love, and may even be when I try to compensate for being away all day (see how that damn mom guilt just creeps in on you!?).

Ok, so what is the point I am trying to make here? Well, here it is. Although it is a VERY real thing, mom guilt doesn’t matter. It doesn’t, and here is how I know. Today was the first day that I actually felt well enough to drag my hot mess of a self out of bed. I walked into my son’s room and there he was standing there with the biggest smile on his face. For the next hour we snuggled in his rocking chair, played in his teepee and laughed like we hadn’t missed a beat. All of my “OMG! He hates me!” mom guilt worries had gone right out the door and then I realized that I needed to cut myself a little slack. We all do. As a Mom, we have a lot to take care of (DUH.) but if we don’t take some REAL time to take care of ourselves, we wont be of any use to those little tater tots of ours. So be kinder to yourself. You are doing the hardest job in the world, and even thought it doesn’t always feel like it, you are amazing at it.

::Pat on back::

Xo N.