[Bite of balance] Mom guilt

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Ever felt that sinking sensation in the pit of your stomach when you realize, amidst a perfectly orchestrated day, you've forgotten your kid's baseball cap? That's mom guilt - and it's got a stranglehold on 94% of us, making us feel like we're forever falling short of some mythical maternal mark. In this episode, I, Teresa, go beyond just nodding in agreement about the struggles of motherhood. Instead, I'm dissecting the two sides of guilt and sharing why it's crucial to distinguish the growth-inspiring from the irrational.

Strap in, fellow moms, as we confront the pressures and judgements that fuel the chaos of mom guilt. From the stay-at-home moms wrangling with the idea they should be working to the working moms drowning in the stigma of 'not enough time with the kids,' our battles are as unique as they are universal. But here's the kicker - I'll unveil a life-saving strategy that shifted the tide in my own life. It's about self-care without guilt because, let's face it, you can't pour from an empty cup. By the time we sign off, you'll be ready to extend yourself that much-needed grace and face parenting with a fresh dose of strength and resilience.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
What's up everyone?
This is Bite of Balance, yourweekly snack size therapy
session.
I'm your host, teresa, andtoday's Bite is all about mom
guilt, acknowledging we have itand how we can deal with it.
So if you missed that episode,be sure to check it out, but for
now it's just you and me, solet's freaking, get into it,

(00:27):
okay.
So guilt, the heavy burden weall know too well.
We defined it, dissected it andrealized it's like navigating a
maze of societal rules,cultural norms and our own
internal values.
Guilt, that pesky emotion,holds immense power, especially
when it tugs at our values,creating internal conflict.

(00:47):
As we age, guilt evolves,taking different forms, but it's
always there, shaping ourdecisions and influencing our
relationships.
So now let's categorize guiltAppropriate guilt, the one that
aligns with our values, gives usa chance for growth.
It nudges us to apologize, makeamends and set intentions for
positive change.

(01:07):
Now, on the flip side of thatirrational guilt is messy,
filled with unprocessed baggage.
Mom guilt often falls into thiscategory, with society setting
unrealistic expectations, makingit an uphill battle for parents
, like are you a stay at homemom?
Well, maybe you should go work.
Are you a working mom?

(01:28):
Well, you don't spend enoughtime with your kids.
Seriously, you cannot win.
The struggle is real and theguilt can be overwhelming.
Parental guilt, or specificallymom guilt, affects not just the
mental well-being of parents,but also shapes the long-term
narrative and expectations fortheir children.
The statistics are staggering94% of moms report feeling some

(01:49):
form of mom guilt throughoutmotherhood.
It's a powerful force shapingdecisions, influencing
relationships and impacting thewell-being of both parents and
children.
So, as a mom, I know all toowell how much mom guilt sucks.
You can have it all togetherone day.
The car is packed with all thekids' things they need for their
sports, all the lunches arepacked and made, all the water

(02:12):
bottles are full and you arriveto the baseball field and one of
your kids doesn't have his damnhat, and somehow it is your
fault.
I've been there, I've done thatand realized if I don't come up
with a way to navigate theseinsane waters, I'm going to
perpetually lose my shit.
So for all the amazing moms outthere dealing with mom guilt,

(02:32):
here's a takeaway tool.
Remember you cannot pour froman empty cup.
Prioritize self-care withoutguilt, because taking care of
yourself enables you to be thebest version for your kids.
Grate yourself grace and fillyour cup so you can navigate the
challenges of parenting withstrength and resilience.
Until next time I'm out.