Real Mom Diaries - "Mom Guilt & Feeling Overwhelmed"

Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Diary Entry: #1

Mood: Happy & Grateful... but also feeling a lot of mom guilt.

Mom Life Moment: Today my 1-year-old was taking a nap. I was overwhelmed with work as he started to wake. Just as I was about to go grab him, my 3-year-old told me she needed help going potty. My husband noticed the handful of tasks that quickly started piling up within a matter of seconds, and offered to go get our son while I helped our daughter. As she finished up business, my daughter and I could hear Daddy chatting and playing with our son over the baby monitor. At that very moment, my daughter looks up at me with a big smile and says, "Daddy's such a great daddy". She's 3. I was floored, and so, so thankful for her.

What’s on My Mind: Today, my heart is overflowing with gratitude for my children. They are everything I’ve ever wanted, and the little wins throughout the day keep me striving to be a better mom. But even with all this love and happiness, the mom guilt still lingers.

I feel wildly overstimulated—by work, my marriage, the house, cooking, my health, and most of all, making sure my children get the time and attention they need. When they throw tantrums, I wonder… is it my fault? Are they acting out because I haven’t balanced my time well? Or have I given them too much attention, making them co-dependent? Am I losing my patience too often? What if I never figure out the "right" way to handle these moments?

One day, when they look back, will they remember me as the tired, overwhelmed, overstimulated mom… or will they remember the mom who tried? Who gave everything she had because they are her entire world. Because nothing and no one could ever replace them in her heart.

These thoughts race through my mind daily. I know every mom is doing her best. But I can’t help but wonder… could I be doing better?

Today’s Win: My kids and I had so much fun digging for gemstones in our National Geographic kits! They LOVED getting all sorts of cool new gems to put in our garden. Seeing that thrill of happiness light up their faces made my heart so full.

Today’s Struggle: I'm guilty of taking on too much, in an effort to be "super-mom", "super-wife", "super-business owner". A lingering fear of burnout and failure has remained in my head for the better part of the day, and it was tough to put that in the back of my brain and just enjoy the moments.

Mom Hack of the Day: When you’re feeling burned out, take just 10 minutes to reset. Close your eyes, take deep breaths, and listen to calming music or a short guided meditation. You can also stretch, drink a glass of water, or step outside for a quick walk. This small but powerful break can help recharge your mind and body, making the rest of your day a little bit easier to manage.

Words to Remember: "Daddy's such a great daddy." – A little wisdom from my kid today.

It’s a reminder that sometimes, we don’t need to do it all perfectly; we’re already doing amazing things just by showing up.

Signing Off: Remember, Mama, you're doing your best—and that's more than enough. Take it one step at a time, give yourself grace, and know that even on the tough days, you're rocking it. You've got this! 💪💖