Parents, you’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.

Or just as likely, we’ve got questions and you’ve got answers.

Challenge: Open Discussion

A Mother Suffers Guilt No Matter What She Does

1
Vote up!
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email this article

ffd98aea2821fbd254cf4b2f9161196001826cbe.jpg

In our society, a mother suffers guilt no matter what she does.

If she’s on top of her kids making sure everything’s okay, she’s called a helicopter mom, and if she lets them run around as she sits on the side talking to a friend, she’s neglectful.

If she prefers cooking from scratch and organic everything, her kids are “going to go crazy on junk food when they go to someone else’s house.” And if she feeds them donuts and muffins for breakfast some mornings because she’s in a rush or "just because," then her kids are unhealthy.

If she breastfeeds and doesn’t produce enough milk, and her baby isn’t thriving, then she’s a failure. But when she adds formula, she’s more of a failure for not giving her baby all breast milk.

If she stays home with her kids, she should be working—"how can her family financially keep up?” But if she's working, she's met with "they're only little once."

If she hasn't lost the postpartum weight, "gosh, she let herself go." But if she did, "wow, she must not eat, spend hours working out, and neglect her children.”

In a society that knows “everything” and places too many expectations on moms,

If you listen to everyone else,

you’re always going to fall short.

So, DON’T LISTEN,

and stop feeling bad for your choices.

Throw those internalized unrealistic expectations away,

and do what’s best for you and your family.

It’s called “your family” for a reason.

Besides, if you love your children and try,

you’re a good mom.

This post originally appeared on the author's Facebook. Her book "Living FULL: Winning My Battle with Eating Disorder" is available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2O4mJId. And my Children’s Book 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘖𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘖𝘬𝘢𝘺: 𝘈𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘴 𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘉𝘪𝘨 𝘍𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘛𝘰𝘰 is 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞!: https://amzn.to/317TvVc

This post comes from the TODAY Parenting Team community, where all members are welcome to post and discuss parenting solutions. Learn more and join us! Because we're all in this together.