Giving myself a break

I was having a discussion earlier today with a fellow Mom. We were talking about the recent challenges we have both been experiencing in Mommy-Land. I was venting about my recent bout of mother's guilt and she was venting about her sleepless nights. At the end of our conversation she said, "We are good mothers, we just need to give ourselves a break."

That line has stuck with me for the rest of the day.

Before I became a mother I considered myself a fairly secure person. Since becoming a mother this has been challenged. I find myself questioning everything that I do. "Is this right?", "Is there a better way this could be done?", "Am I a good mother?" I am continuously comparing myself to other moms and, in my mind, falling short.

Being a parent is exhausting in itself and having this internal turmoil is even more so.

Hearing my friend say that this morning made me stop. I am a good mother and I have to realize that not everyday is going to be perfect. There are going to be days when I feel awful for leaving her to go to work. There are going to be days when I question decisions I have made. There are going to be days when I feel like I could've done better, and that's OK. None of these things make me a bad parent. None of these things are going to scar my daughter for life and make her resent me when she's an adult. I am sure I will do other things that will fall into that category!

So today I have decided to "give myself a break". Instead of worrying about everything that I may be doing wrong, I am going to enjoy my daughter, and try to recognize everything that I have done right.