Mom guilt. It’s a term I didn’t fully understand until I became a mom myself. No one warned me how it would creep into the quiet moments, whispering doubts and second-guessing my every decision. It started early, just a few weeks after my baby was born.

One afternoon, I handed my little one to my partner so I could take a shower. As the warm water washed over me, I should’ve felt relaxed, but instead, I felt a pang of guilt. Shouldn’t I be holding my baby instead of focusing on myself?

It wasn’t the first time, and it certainly wasn’t the last. Mom guilt showed up when I couldn’t breastfeed exclusively, when I went back to work, and even when I longed for a few quiet moments to myself. It seemed to be everywhere, turning joy into doubt and accomplishments into questions of “Am I doing enough?”

But here’s what I’ve learned since then: mom guilt is normal, but it doesn’t have to define your motherhood journey.

The Pressure to Be Perfect

In today’s world, it feels like moms are expected to do it all—keep a spotless home, make Pinterest-worthy meals, and be available 24/7 for our children. Social media doesn’t help, either. My feed was filled with images of moms seemingly nailing every aspect of life while I struggled to make it through the day.

It’s easy to feel like you’re falling short when you’re constantly comparing yourself to an ideal that doesn’t exist. The truth is, every mom has moments of doubt and imperfection—yes, even the ones with perfect Instagram grids.

For me, the turning point came one evening after a particularly challenging day. My toddler had refused to eat, the laundry pile was overwhelming, and I’d snapped at my partner over something trivial. As I sat on the couch, feeling like a failure, my little one toddled over, wrapped their arms around me, and said, “Love you, Mommy.”

In that moment, I realized something important: my child doesn’t see the laundry pile or the mismatched socks. They see love. They see me.

From then on, I decided to approach mom guilt differently. Instead of letting it consume me, I started to reframe my thoughts and practice self-compassion.

The first step was recognizing that guilt often comes from love. We feel guilty because we care deeply about our children and want to do right by them. But love doesn’t mean striving for perfection—it means showing up, even when things aren’t perfect.

I also began setting realistic expectations for myself. I reminded myself that it’s okay to order takeout instead of cooking dinner from scratch, to skip vacuuming in favor of playing on the floor, or to ask for help when I need it.

Another big change? Letting go of comparisons. Every mom’s journey is unique, and there’s no one “right” way to do things. What works for another family might not work for mine, and that’s okay.

Finally, I made self-care a priority—not just for me, but for my family too. Taking care of myself doesn’t make me less of a mom; it makes me a better one. Whether it’s a walk around the block, a quiet cup of coffee, or a quick yoga session, these small acts of care recharge me so I can show up fully for my little one.

These days, I still have moments of guilt—it’s part of the mom experience, after all. But I’ve learned to meet those moments with kindness instead of judgment. I remind myself that being a good mom isn’t about doing everything perfectly; it’s about loving my child fiercely and doing my best with what I have.

When guilt creeps in, I take a step back and ask myself, “What would I tell a friend feeling this way?” More often than not, I’d tell her she’s doing an amazing job, that her love is enough, and that it’s okay to have tough days. So why not offer myself that same grace?

Motherhood is filled with highs and lows, but one thing remains constant: the love we pour into our children. That love deserves to be celebrated and cherished.

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