A Confident MomSample

Saying Goodbye to Mom Guilt

So even if we know we’ll be happier, more positive, more loving moms if we take time for ourselves, how often do we take time away from our kiddos only to feel guilty the whole time we’re gone?

There’s the guilt we feel when we leave our kids, and there’s the guilt we feel when we’re grouchy because we haven’t been away from our kids. Instead of feeling guilty for taking time for yourself, start looking at your time away as guilt prevention. It prevents the mom-guilt that comes from being grumpy with your kids because you needed a break but felt too guilty to take it.

If you’re like me, and there are times you feel guilty when you’ve planned a night out with friends, for example, take a minute to assess whether there’s a reason or if it’s just another mom-guilt script.

Sometimes there is a cause. Sometimes I, for example, haven’t spent much time with my family that week. I’ve taken care of them by cooking and doing laundry, but I’ve been on the phone and computer a lot and haven’t had much face-to-face quality time with them.

In those instances, instead of just feeling guilty, let’s take that as a cue to intentionally connect with our kids, even if it’s just for thirty minutes one night that week. Taking time to plan a date with our family prevents us from feeling guilty when we are out with friends and gives us the gift of quality time with our kids!

Our kids are willing to give us a lot more grace than we realize. We just need to step into that grace and be what we can be. We don’t have time to lose, and we don’t have to lose the time we have by giving in to guilt. Let’s live fully in what we can do while refusing to feel guilty for what we can’t do.

Lord, help me give myself grace when I feel guilty for something I did or didn’t do. Instead of wasting my mental and emotional energy thinking about what I should have done, and giving guilt too much time, help me do what I can and make the most of the minutes and moments You have given me with my children. Thank You for the grace that cancels all guilt trips because my guilt was canceled on the cross by Jesus. Amen.