09/07/2026
Letâs talk about mom guilt.
Itâs that gnawing feeling that you should be doing moreâŚ.more playing, more patience, more presenceâŚeven when youâre already stretched thin.
This summer is the first summer that my daughter has been home without childcare since sheâs now in school. And I work remotely, so I thought âcool, we donât have to pay for childcare! She can just hang out with me!â
ExceptâŚitâs way harder than I thought it would be. Sheâs bored. Itâs been too dang hot to go outside (thanks, heat dome đŤ ). I have meetings and tasks to get done. I feel like Iâm not doing enough momming while also not doing enough work. It sucks. And I feel a lot of mom guilt (and regular guilt) over it all.
And hereâs the thing: mom guilt can be a symptom of the impossible standards we set for ourselves, often amplified by postpartum and perinatal mental health challenges.
It doesnât mean youâre failing. It means you love your child deeply AND youâre human.
This summer, if youâre trying to work, rest, parent, and hold it all togetherâŚgive yourself the same compassion youâd offer a friend (Iâm also trying to remember this. My husband reminded me to be nice to myself last night).
You are doing more than enoughâŚand the mom guilt isnât fair đ
If you need help and support:
đ¸ Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-852-6262
đ¸ Call or text the Postpartum Support International HelpLine at 800-944-4773
đ¸ For a crisis situation, call or text the National Su***de & Crisis Lifeline at 988