Motherhood

Mommy Guilt is a Bitch 

Mommy guilt is a bitch. ( I know your kids can’t read it, so please excuse my French) I am mostly the cool mom in my head. I care for my baby but I am not in the paranoid category ( yet!). I make mistakes.

I have been around when she has fallen, bumped her head, hurt her knee even swallowed a hair pin and I have felt terrible. I asked myself those terrible questions, ” why was I not alert?”, how could I not jump faster to protect her from that fall? “,” why didn’t I put the hairclip away!!” Oh! I whipped myself so many times that it left mark on my soul but I have eventually now come out of that dark cloud of #mommyguilt.

I am her mother. I am supposed to be her protector, her guide and mentor. Yet, many a times my human limitations and sheer carelessness have landed her in trouble.

It’s tough to be a mom when you are an overgrown child yourself. If you know me you would know that I have always been the baby of the house. My parents pamper me silly, my friends spoil me by bearing all my whims and tantrums and loving me for it and my husband has only taken after my father in the doting and caring department, so I have lived a very entitled and pampered life.

Things dramatically changed when I came home with a ( real) baby in the house. I had no option but to grow up. I had to be less selfish and less self involved and care for another person and her life. It was exciting but very scary.

Scarier was the attitude of people around me. Overnight I changed from being ‘the baby’ to the mother of a baby. My parent’s love diverted to their grandchild and I started getting instructions more than I ever did even in my teenage years.

My husband now wanted a mature partner who should have his level of perfection, awareness and dependability. Someone he can trust with his baby.

And I assumed that role. We are mothers and it comes naturally to us. Isn’t it?

But still the core of being a care a damn, free bird, childlike person continues to live inside me as a split personality. And it emerges many a times mostly when my child goes to sleep 😜


But what lives permanently is the fear of ” AM I doing enough? “. And it becomes even more difficult to love your mommy self when you hurt your baby by mistake. What hurts more than the realization that you have hurt your baby is your significant other or a family member telling you, ” How could you not be careful? ”

It feels like a tight blow on your chin, as you try to chin up and face yet another day of mothering your little one.

The worst part of feeling guilty is being accused of the thing you are feeling guilty about- loud. Aloud. “ Being told that you are not taking enough care of your baby is like being told you are a terrible mom at this point in time. And if you see it deeply, it’s not a false allegation. And then comes the worst of the kind of mommy guilt. Yes, you messed up. You know it. And people around you are not letting you forget it.


Then you wallow in self pity and cry a bit in the toilet and come out smiling for your baby. Then your toddler comes to you and smiles and gives you the biggest hug and you think, ” Fu^k this shit, my baby thinks I am awesome. And baby never lies”. You need approval and acknowledgement, and your baby gives you that.

So my dear Mamma. If you are feeling inadequate, sad, broken, lost, confused & at the bottom of what’s left of your positive self image. Please, receive my virtual hug and know that you are not alone.


You are like any other woman who is shouldering the responsibility of being a mother at this moment. Every mother even the so called perfect once have ” fu£ked it” some times. Every mother has heard negative comments and seen rolling eyes from the people they want the least judgement from. We are all messing it up one time or the other. But guess what?? We are driven by good intentions.

We are mothers and we take care of our babies not because it’s our duty. ( We are not paid for it. It’s a duty of a nanny to look after a child, not mother’s) We look after our child because nature has altered us so. Because the love that we feel for our children, make them our priority. We do the best for our children most times, and that’s what matters.


So please put your hands on your ears, and mute the noises of people around. Most importantly, stop listening to that nagging, high pitch voice of ” guilt” who stays inside our head, because she is one unforgiving, judgmental bitch.

Listen to your heart. Listen to your child. Listen to the woman who is you, who is a wonderful mother, a dutiful wife and a shining Goddess. All you have to do is believe & kiss mommy guilt ” Goodbye”

20 Comments

  1. I think we all feel like we can do a little bit more even when we are doing all we can. The saying you can’t pour from a empty cup is on of this that I am on both sides of the fence. As a mom you find a way to pour from that empty cup, but at the same time when the cup is empty you feel like you have failed in some way. Great post and friendly reminder that we are all kicking ass in various ways at this thing called momming.

    1. Love Life And The Little One

      So true.

    2. Love Life And The Little One

      Glad you like it.

  2. It\’s funny how much easier the kids are on our mistakes than we are on our mistakes. Virtual hugs all around! – Amy @ http://thegiftedgabber.com/

  3. The first time my daughter rolled off the bed, I was devastated. She wasn\’t hurt but I STILL feel guilt about it, even though it\’s happened a couple more times lol. Kids are tougher than we think.

    1. They are. While we are not as sorted as we would like to believe!

  4. homeboundbuthopeful

    Mom-guilt is an up and down battle for me… Some days I can silence the worries in my head about \’am I doing enough, or doing it right?\’. Other days, I have to live with the guilt for a bit before it subsides.
    Stay strong mamas. <3

    1. It\’s true what you said. Hugs

  5. Hi Meghna, as you already mentioned, its not only you who is facing this situation alone. Every mom have to face this now and then but only you could explain this so nicely. I love your blogs, keep writing and be a guide and a mentor for not only your child but for all those young girls who suddenly become responsble moms.
    All the very best for you your child and entire family.
    Sagar

    1. Aww.. Thank you. Really appreciate your kind encouragement.

  6. It\’s a ridiculous concept and probably invented by a man. There\’s no reason I like to think all moms of not the majority do the best they can with what they are provided with.

    1. I agree. Ever heard of Daddy Guilt?

  7. Jacqui Woods

    When my oldest was 1.5 years old I found a magnet in her mouth. I thought she had swolled another one and panicked, rushing her to the ER. I felt so much guilt, like maybe if I hadn\’t turned my back we wouldn\’t be here. It\’s hard when you feel like you could have prevented something.

    1. Oh!! I know what you are saying. We rushed to ER too after our daughter swallowed a hairpin. Horrible time!!

  8. More guilt is the worst. Right know I am struggling with being a good morning mom. I hate mornings ugh.

  9. Babies are resilient! I don\’t think Mom Guilt ever goes away, but it\’s nice when I can relax a bit and not stress over every bump and bruise.

    1. Yes. I am getting there now too

  10. I 100% get this.

    No matter what decision I make it always feel guilty. 🤔

    1. Then don\’t fret about it. Get up & move on. You are awesome

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