Balancing Work And Family How to Let Go of Working-Mom Guilt by Sheryl G. Ziegler September 04, 2020 Harvard Business Review
https://hbr.org/2020/09/how-to-let-go-of-working-mom-guilt
Summary.
Working moms are chasing the balance of working a job that they want and being the mom that they envisioned. They feel bad about letting their kids, team, or boss down, and also feel guilt about practicing self-care, remorse for not helping aging parents enough, or embarrassment about admitting their stress. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has left working parents — and in particular mothers, who still disproportionately take care of the housework and children — having to find solutions for education and childcare.
If you're a working mother, you must let go of this guilt. Consider these five tips. First, forgive yourself for your choices and circumstances. Second, revisit your values and make them your top priorities. Third, ask for help from those around you. Fourth, remember the basics of being a good parent and let yourself be "good enough." Finally, unfollow those on social media that bring you down.
Forget "Having It All": How America Messed Up Motherhood--and How to Fix It
by Amy Westervelt
https://www.amazon.com/Forget-Having-All-America-Motherhood/dp/1580057861
"We still ask women to work like they don't have kids and parent like they don't work.It's well past time to change all that."
What Exactly IS Mom Guilt Anyway? A Clinical Psychotherapist Explains
by Lori Mihalich-Levin | Oct 21, 2017 | Working Mom
https://www.mindfulreturn.com/mom-guilt/
Summary:
So-called "mom-guilt" is pervasive among mothers. It can strike at any time and can show itself in any number of "mom" situations. There are enormous expectations from society, media, family and friends about what mothers "should be like" and what we "should do." Should a mom return to work or not? Breastfeed or not? Be happy she is a mom?
Unreasonable expectations of happiness are also commonly drilled into new mothers. However, at least 1 in 7 mothers experience postpartum depression or anxiety following the birth of a baby. Voicing true feelings may lead to judgement, though and then guilt begins to take a toll.
Being a mother can be filled with anxiety, stress, chaos, and can feel like one of the worst jobs on the planet. But we don't have to let guilt shame and fear control our experiences, but rather work towards self-acceptance and letting go of guilt.
