There are many things that cause a mother to give up half or almost all of her time to earn some money, but all of them result in the same thing; namely, working mom’s guilt. Naturally, a working mother must spend some time that she could set aside for her children. However, when a mother has strong reasons to work, there should not be any guilty feeling. If you are a working mother,
Here are some tips for dealing with working mom’s guilt.
1. Stay away from people who make you guilty
This should be very obvious, but many of these working mothers (probably us, too) cannot forget a neighbor who said something like “I won’t let someone else to raise my child!” Probably you should stop hanging around with that neighbor. Relatives or in-laws can also be tricky. If, say, your mother-in-law starts to say something cynical about you working, find an excuse to leave the room.
2. Look who’s talking
Whenever someone makes a comment about you working, remember that all of us look it behind various perspectives. You have to see the comment in light of the choices the speaker made for her own family. Did she put her career on hold to be home with kids? Did she miss working or hate being dependant on her husband for money? Then maybe she has to believe hers is the only right choice in order to live with the tradeoffs she accepted.
3. Create special time for your child
Take a day off just to spend with your child. If your child is still little, you can examine her for new rashes, see how she naps and eats, and indulge in activities that do not fit elsewhere in the week. If your child is bigger, let him choose the agenda, whether it is the mall, a bike ride, or lunch.
4. Are there any warning signs?
Sometimes, a working mom’s guilt can also be a warning signal. Are you unhappy with your child care provider? Is your boss making it hard for you to balance? Do you need to ask your husband for more help around the house? If you see a red flag, fix it; resolving to do so can dispel the guilt.
