Whether or not you are a new mom, if you’ve been able to stay home with your kids for a while and it’s time to return to work, then you’re probably struggling with some guilt. There is absolutely no reason for you to feel guilt, but we know that it can be very punishing. In today’s post, we’ll take a look at some tips for avoiding the guilt altogether, as well as some ways for managing it if it does sneak up on you.
At Growing Room in Ft. Myers, we know that you work hard to provide what is best for your children. If you are a mom who works outside of the home, then we hope that today’s post will provide you with the tools you need to let go of the guilt. We are proud to offer the best preschool education and care facility in Ft. Myers, and we would love to take you on a tour of our school. Call today to schedule your tour and experience the peace of mind that comes from knowing your child is in good hands.
1. Create Boundaries With People Who Cause You Guilt
For some reason, there always seem to be parents who act as if they know more than you do and they’re quick to let you know this. What you need to remember is that the best moms are the ones who don’t feel the need to criticize others. The best thing you can do for yourself in this situation is to create boundaries or space. If the person who is causing you to feel guilt is a friend, then carefully consider what invitations you may need to turn down so that you have less negativity in your life. Instead, try to surround yourself with other people who are ready to admit that life gets tough and are quick with an encouraging word.
2. Accept Trade-Offs
Whether you are a stay-at-home mom (SAHM) or a working mom, there will always be trade-offs. There is no way that you can physically be present for every single moment of your child’s life, nor should you be. You need to have space away from your child to remember who you are as a person. That being said, there will be times that you’re not able to attend one of your child’s field trips, you miss out on a fun playdate, or you miss them losing a tooth. While none of these are activities or events that you want to miss, it’s important to remember why you work outside the home. If you, your child, and your family as a whole are ultimately better off as a result of your job, then don’t ever allow yourself to feel guilty over your choice.
3. Take a Personal Day to Spend Time With Your Child
One thing to remember to encourage yourself is that it’s okay to take a personal day for no other reason than to spend quality time with your child. If you’ve been struggling more than usual with mommy guilt, then take some time off, plan a fun day with your child, and allow yourself to reconnect with the unique person that your little human is becoming. Depending on your child’s age, you can take time to let them play in a bubble bath in the middle of the day, to go for a bike ride, or to create artwork together.
4. It’s Okay to Be Sad
Sometimes, despite everything you know to be true, your emotions will probably get the best of you. When this happens, it’s important to allow yourself to be sad. Don’t tell yourself that you’re silly for feeling this way, that you shouldn’t feel this way, or anything else to try to make the emotional ride stop. One of the ways that we process things is through feeling them, and there is no shame in that. Take some time for self-care, whether that means reading a book in the quiet of your bedroom, taking a walk by yourself, or scheduling a massage.
At Growing Room in Ft. Myers, we know that whether you are a SAHM or a working mom, you work hard to take care of your child. We hope that today’s post has given you some helpful advice for dealing with the mommy guilt when it rears its ugly head. If you’re in need of quality, compassionate child care, then please call us to schedule a tour. We’d love to have the opportunity to care for your little one and provide you with the peace of mind you need while you’re at work.
