Glow & Grow

Mom guilt. It sneaks up on you in the quiet moments—when you miss bedtime because of a late meeting or when you hear about someone else’s homemade, organic bento box lunches and you’re over here handing out Goldfish crackers.

Here’s the thing: guilt is a relentless storyteller, weaving tales that often aren’t even true. For me, it told the story of a mom who wasn’t doing enough. But one day, I decided to rewrite the script.

Step 1: Identify the Source

The first step in overcoming guilt is to figure out where it’s coming from. Is it social media comparisons? Pressure from your job? Unrealistic expectations you’ve set for yourself? For me, it was all of the above. Once I identified these triggers, I could start to tackle them.

Step 2: Question the Narrative

Ask yourself: Is this guilt rooted in reality, or am I being too hard on myself? For example, when I felt guilty about working late, I reminded myself that I was also providing for my family. When I missed a soccer practice, I focused on all the times I did show up.

Step 3: Reframe the Message

Instead of saying, “I’m not doing enough,” I started saying, “I’m doing my best, and that’s enough.” This shift didn’t happen overnight, but every time guilt popped up, I consciously chose a kinder, more empowering message.

Step 4: Celebrate the Wins

Big or small, your wins matter. Did you make it to one bedtime story this week? Did you power through a tough work project? Celebrate that! Guilt loves to focus on what we didn’t do, but you have the power to shift the spotlight.

Letting go of mom guilt isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being present, forgiving yourself, and remembering that you’re doing an incredible job, even on the hard days.