Look what I found over at the Motherlode. More proof that moms feel guilty. All moms. Women feel guilty all the time. And we are our own worst enemies. It’s true! Researchers and experts agree: 5 out of 6 moms are wandering around in a guilt-ridden haze.
Thanks to the folks at the Working Mother Research Institute, we have more insight into what makes women tick in a report called,”What Moms Choose.”
The 30 second elevator speech: Women who have kids are conflicted and guilty. “Working moms” feel guilty for not having enough time with the kiddos, for neglecting themselves and for the fact that their houses are messy. “Stay at home moms” feel guilty that their houses are messy and that they are not using their education as much as they could be or contributing to the family income with a salary.
I have one thing to say, ladies: lose the guilt about the messy house. Life does not wait for you to put away the bucket and sponge. There are better things to do than get your kitchen floor spic and span. That is why the five second rule was invented! Dirt is good for the immune system. It makes us smarter and happier. Cross that item off the guilt list! Plus, if you come over to my way of thinking, I can feel better about myself.
In honor of this groundbreaking news flash, I am going to list the things I feel guilty about today and then I’m going to burn the list (metaphorically obviously) and release it to the universe. I am going to rid myself of the guilt (until tomorrow anyway):
- Tomorrow is Halloween and I didn’t take the kids to a pumpkin patch this year.
- No pumpkin patch=no carved pumpkins. Lame.
- It is Sunday and I didn’t call my mother today.
- It is (almost) November and I’ve exercised twice in 2011.
- My kids have really chapped lips.
- Middle D was outside in bare feet today before I noticed. It is the end of October in Colorado–not bare feet weather.
- I am a very un-crafty mother and my kid’s Aztec mask will likely be the worst one in his class.
- I painted the mask for him because it was easier than doing it with him.
There you have it. Today’s list.
Now write yours. Tell me when you are ready.
All set? Got the matches?
All together now. Aaaah. A clean slate for a Sunday night.
Let’s start tomorrow being nicer to ourselves. I’m pretty sure it will carry over to our kids, our spouses, our co-workers and our success:
“I see guilt as one of the top limiters of success for women in any area,” says Karen Wilhelm Buckley, co-author of Savvy Leadership Strategies for Women and a management consultant.“It’s like putting one foot on the gas and one foot on the brake and trying to drive.”
Check out the full report What Moms Choose.
