No one truly prepares you for mum guilt. It appears out of nowhere and settles in like an unwanted guest. You feel it when you go to work, and you feel it when you stay home. You feel it when you feed your child something quick and easy, even though they are full and happy. It is exhausting.
I used to think mum guilt meant I was doing something wrong. Now I see it differently. It means I care deeply and want to do right by my children. But caring doesn’t have to mean punishing myself for every small thing.
There is no perfect mother. There is only the kind who keeps trying, who loves her children fiercely, and who learns along the way. When I make mistakes, I try to show my kids what it looks like to recover and move on. That is a better lesson than pretending I never get it wrong.
If you have been feeling guilty lately, take a breath. You are doing enough. You really are.