Gratituesday: On Mommy Guilt

So, last week I came across this link on my Facebook page. If you don't want to click through, here's the jist:

Dear Mom on the iPhone, It's okay. Sincerely, Awesome Mom Peer

Yes! It IS okay! I have this thing about Mommy guilt... it makes me sooo frustrated. It seems like moms in our culture feel guilty about everything - and we nurture each other’s guilt, too! It’s as if, subconciously, we are thinking “If I have Mommy guilt, it's because I care. And a good mom cares, right? Okay then, live on, mommy guilt!”

Except - a good mom also needs to believe in herself and the decisions she has made. She should stand by who she is and own herself - flaws, bad tempers, mistakes, and all. She should know mistakes happen, bad days come and go, and not knowing an answer is just a part of her role as a mama.

But, our culture thrives on Mommy guilt and it drives me batty. Do I suffer from mommy guilt? YES. I’m not going to act like I have it under control and I don’t second guess a LOT of what I do. But, what makes it worse is that we are constantly discussing our guilt, reading about it, and allowing it to naturally become a part of our identities as mothers. But, you all! It is such a waste of time and energy! I do recognize I am holding myself to a ridiculous standard sometimes, we all are. Luckily, I have amazing people in my life that help bring me back to reality when I need it most… and I am so blessed for it.

(And not to sound like a commercial, but, I want to genuinely add: if YOU need some life cheerleaders, I encourage you to “Like” The Motherhood Collective on Facebook and join in the conversation. We are all about loving and nurturing moms. Because we all need it.)

Okay, so, when I came across that blog post about being an iPhone mama and it being OKAY I was thinking "Yes! Yes! Thank you! Let’s join together and tell these mamas to STOP FEELING GUILTY about so much stuff!” Someone else on the internet GETS IT! I am a recent (last 3 months or so) iPhone convert and it didn’t take long before my phone became an important key to managing our lives. I respond to client emails faster, I can spew out a grocery list as I drive to the store, I share bits of Sunday's days with Tommy, I read a daily devotion… the list goes on and on.

So, for this Gratituesday, I've got two things: I am super grateful for moms that are about supporting one another. And, on a lighter note… I am also grateful for my iphone and how much it helps me manage all the going ons of our family. :) I am grateful to know I’m not the only mama who does NOT feel guilty about how often I use my phone in the presence of my family!

Tomorrow, I am going to share some of my favorite iphone apps with you guys. And I’m not going to feel one ounce of guilt about it!

Gratituesday is a weekly post I try to keep up with. Join us at Heavenly Homemakers by sharing your own Gratituesday post!

Liz Cook

Liz Cook is a wedding, birth, and motherhood photographer based in Central Virginia. Her intuition and creative perspective allow her to connect both professionally and personally with her subjects, and thus, her portfolio is saturated with authentic emotion. Whether she's sharing her story with fellow entrepreneurs or enjoying quality time with her husband and two daughters, Liz is both present and passionate about capturing and celebrating life. Her work has been featured by O "Oprah" Magazine, The Huffington Post, The Glitter Guide, Essence Magazine, domino, Rue Magazine, among others.