Self-doubt as a mom is a common feeling, whether you have babies, toddlers or the kids are grown and flown. In order to help dispel the myth that you need to be the perfect mother and spend hours upon hours with your children and bake cupcakes with them every evening, here are some tips to help you feel better about yourself, as you should!
The perfect mother myth, busted
Part of the problem is the long history in psychological circles of placing the responsibility of successful child rearing squarely upon the mother. Fathers played very much a secondary role in childhood development among early theorists like Freud, and the belief propagated that one or two missteps on the mother’s part were enough to scar Junior forever.
We know now that a perfect mother isn’t necessary for a child to be well adjusted. There are certain things that a parent should provide for a child to foster their healthy development, like emotional and physical attunement to the child’s expression of needs, and support for their exploration of the world on their own—while also providing a safe home base to which the child can return.
But children aren’t quite as fragile as once thought. A misattunement here or there doesn’t spell disaster. We also know now that while the primary caregiver (of either sex) is the most important figure for a child, both parents carry a great deal of influence. So moms, you’re not alone on the hook.
Also read: Working less to be a better mom in midlife
Distorted reflections
But myths that are well-established don’t die easily and, as highly social animals, comparing ourselves to the mythical perfect mother comes very naturally.
As a result, not only do we compare our perception of ourselves to our perception of others, but we also tend to broadcast images of ourselves that are likely to draw favorable reviews, even if it just means wearing clean clothes to your business meeting instead of your tattered sweatpants. There’s a term for this: “impression management.”
These comparing and broadcasting tendencies, however, create a problem. We’re comparing ourselves to a perception of someone else that is at least in part fictional. More likely, it’s highly fictional, and when we don’t measure up to it, we feel inadequate. Even if we project an image of measuring up, it takes effort to display that image if it doesn’t match the inside.
As deeply rooted in our social nature as these phenomena are, they aren’t easy to change. Sometimes my clients find it helpful just to understand that comparison and impression management are perfectly natural and, thus, they’re not the only ones doing it. But there are certainly ways to feel more comfortable in your “good enough”-ness.
Your fact-finding mission
The one I’ll mention here is pretty simple. Any negative self-assessments you may have probably take the form of thoughts; it would be good for you to make a list of them. Let’s use this one as an example: “I’m always screwing up with my son. I’ll never be a good mother.” Now, what you need to do is separate fact from opinion.
If you recently committed a parenting error—let’s say, forgetting to pick your child up from daycare—then that’s a fact. Are you “always screwing up” and will you “never be a good mother?” Well, the first clue that these are opinions is the presence of the words “always” and “never.” People are rarely always or never anything.
But you can cross-examine those statements yourself. Think of (or list) the times when you were a Class A parent, and the times that you did remember to pick your child up, which are probably much more numerous. The human brain has a tendency to emphasize the negative, so you need to make effort to flesh out the full picture.
Once you’ve done that, restate the original thought with the new perspective and evidence you’ve gathered. For instance: “I forgot Johnny at daycare today—the second time I’ve done that. It’s not like me, because the vast majority of the time I’m very much on the ball and a loving and responsible mother. Still, I feel terrible about what happened. So I’m going to make an extra effort to get organized and leave myself reminders, so this never happens again.”
See what we did there? We produced a statement that acknowledges the negative and the positive, using solid evidence on both sides, that expresses the reality of what is going on. It’s not a hollow, feel-good affirmation. Let the opinions go and bank on the objective facts, and you’ll feel much better about yourself.
Also read: Finding balance as a work-at-home mom
Intangible self-care
Speaking of feeling better, Mother’s Day was conceived as an occasion to honor the important role the mother plays in the world, and it makes for a good excuse to pamper yourself. I encourage you to take the opportunity to have your nails done, or buy yourself some new clothing if you like those things. However, I also encourage you to consider activities that pamper the parts of yourself that you can’t see.
Our social nature means that deeply-felt interpersonal connection with others is a crucial ingredient in our ability to thrive—whether we’re an infant or a mother. Therefore, a high-quality conversation with a close friend or family member would be an example of intangible self-care.
Others would include clearing your schedule for a long walk in a pretty place, taking a class in an area of interest, or giving a new hobby a try. You could also take some quiet time to create a personal mission statement for the next year of your life. It doesn’t need to be boring, like homework. Just let your mind run free to an ideal vision of your life, and start working backward to identify the things that are really important to you, and how you might get closer to them. It can be an empowering and refreshing exercise.
Above all, be sure to take some time to cultivate some appreciation for yourself, for all of the good work you do as a mom, and all of your good intentions. Let it soak in, and enjoy it. Sure, you could probably use some improvement—who couldn’t? And you’re also probably doing pretty great just the way you are.