by Tanya Kovarsky, mom to Max , addicted to blogging, Apple products, long-distance running and Converse shoes. Freelance writer, with 11yrs experience who does editing, writing and training. Read her blog
Mother guilt is as synonymous with parenting as poo nappies, toddler tantrums and sleepless nights. And if I had a dollar for every time I heard moms lamenting their mommy guilt, felt it myself, or read blogs and tweets about it, well, I’d be able to quit work. And thus alleviate my own mommy guilt!
But it being Mother’s Day coming up, and the fact that we’re often hard on ourselves as moms, I thought I would outrule stuff that we probably shouldn’t be feeling guilty about.
Going to work
Enjoying work
Not wanting to work
Putting your child in front of Barney for an extra half hour sleep/shower/bath/meal
Lying to your competitive mom friends about how many hours your baby sleeps at a stretch when they try to outdo you with their child’s sleeping habits
Letting your kids spend a night or weekend at their grandparents
Locking yourself in the bathroom so that you can wee in peace
Not bathing your child for one night because it was just too much hassle
Not heating your baby’s bottle if they’re used to cold milk
Not breastfeeding
Supplementing with formula
Not going to antenatal classes or reading childcare books
Choosing a birth plan despite what everyone else thinks
Giving your child cake for breakfast because that’s all he’ll eat, or to avoid a toddler tantrum
Not feeling like sex after giving birth
Not keeping every piece of artwork
Not going to a class birthday party because you don’t know anyone
Not signing up to the PTA or other parenting committee
Saying the park or playground is closed because you’re tired to go, or because it’s too cold
Still wishing you had your pre-pregnancy body
Wishing you a wonderful and hopefully guiltless Mother’s Day!
by Tanya Kovarsky, mom to Max , addicted to blogging, Apple products, long-distance running and Converse shoes. Freelance writer, with 11yrs experience who does editing, writing and training. Read her blog
Straightforward, realistic and funny..great article.. thanks! Made me smile after reading some of the other nonsense written