As the respected, modern philosopher, Fergie, from Black Eyed Peas, says in their “I Gotta A Feeling” song, “I feel stressed out and I wanna to let it go!” Well join the freakin club Fergie!
Wouldn’t it feel wonderful to ‘let it all go” as Fergie states? All the pressures, expectations and guilt ridden feelings just wash away? Of course it’d be wonderful but it’s time to wake up! Realistically speaking, THAT is NOT going to happen. At least not over night. However, I am thinking of what can we do, TODAY, to help decrease the load we carry on our shoulders. And it has to do with this secret we all seem compelled to carry with us, day in and day out.
What’s the secret? All the little details of what we do that makes us feel guilty! I have been thanked in response to my blog, for talking about issues that are real and that nobody seems willing to confront. And I get it…who wants to admit, “I am a less than perfect specimen of a human being….let alone, less than perfect Mom” ? However, keep this in mind, when you are always comparing yourself to Motherhood perfection, you will always be disappointed. And it’s not because you are not a great Mom! It’s because perfection is a myth. When you carry things in your heart and never let them go, or share them with anyone else, the weight increases, the air constricts around you. It’s time to get over our fear of embarrassment and let the secret out!
Let’s STOP this insanity, one Mom at a time! Or one post at a time! I challenge you to dig deep this week and post one thing (or circa 2008, phone a friend) and admit one embarrassing thing that will decrease the weight on your shoulders. Label it the “Secret Guilt Society” if you’d like. Tag me…I’d love to hear about it!
Love the blog! I feel guilty about things all the time: my kids eat too much junk food because I don’t like to cook, the house is never as clean as my mother’s was/is, and they watch more TV than I would like. BUT, they are also able to cook/microwave/toast for themselves breakfast and lunch, they can make their beds, vacuum and clean out the litter box; and they are all truly funny, maybe from watching iCarly? I try to remember that my goal is to try to turn them into productive members of society, good college room mates, spouses who are good to their mates, parents who love their children, and people who rely on God for perfection, not themselves or their mothers. Keep up the good work, Meg!
I don’t remember to brush Isabel’s teeth, most of her dinners come from a can, and I let her sit and watch Elmo so I can post on facebook. My friends buy organic and make their own baby food. They also don’t give their kids juice. I feel like everyone breastfed longer than I did and my daughter goes to daycare full time! Sure…… I usually go to bed with some secret mom guilt from the day.
Thanks for the blog- I love it!
Ann
Annie, I love it! And I love that you can be so honest! Thank you…you are helping many other Moms out there that struggle with the same specific issues! I promise you…you are not alone in those secrets!
Thanks Julie! Those guilty feelings are quite familiar! I am so glad and grateful that you have identified things like, “good college roommates, parents who love their children, spouses that are good to their mates…” things we don’t always think about as we run from day to day….thank you for your comments! Meg