Transcript of Episode #8:
Stop Mom Guilt in its Tracks!
Cristina: Hello, and welcome back to the Blissful Mompreneur podcast. I’m your host, Cristina Hall, and I am so grateful you are here today. I am on a mission to help mompreneurs or female entrepreneurs who hope to be moms in the future, systemize and scale their businesses to beat overwhelm and reclaim their time. Join me each week as I dive into actionable strategies and inspiring stories to support you on your journey to entrepreneurial success and work-life balance.
Have you ever found yourself in that heart-wrenching position of having to say no to your child because of a pressing work commitment? Perhaps it was a missed school event, an important milestone, or simply a cherished moment you couldn’t be present for. If that “no” left you grappling with a tidal wave of mom guilt, know that you’re not alone. The delicate balancing act of entrepreneurship and motherhood is filled with moments like these where every decision feels like a trade-off between two equally important roles. But amidst the challenges, it’s essential to recognize the incredible feat you’re undertaking. You’re not just managing a business. You’re following your dreams while also nurturing your family. And that my friend is nothing short of amazing. So let’s dive into today’s episode where we’ll explore how we can reframe that mom guilt and acknowledge all the good we are doing.
Recently, I was in my son’s music together class when the teacher mentioned how young children learn our values by observing our actions. In that moment, my first thought was, oh great, my son is going to think that work is the only thing that is valuable. As I started to beat myself up, I caught myself and recognized that negative self-talk wasn’t going to do me any good. Over the next few days, I reflected on what the teacher said in her class and some thoughts began to emerge. There I was enriching my son’s life by taking him to a music together class where I was fully engaged and attentive to his needs. I wasn’t on my phone. I was fully present with him, but I was still beating myself up. Why? Why are we so hard on ourselves? Through my own reflection and from talking with other moms, I saw several themes that kept emerging. We care so deeply for our children and about our work and the impact it has on others. We feel societal pressures to be the perfect mom. We are constantly comparing ourselves to others, even though their circumstances are likely very different than ours. We’re afraid we’re gonna miss out on important events or milestones, and we have deep-seated beliefs of how a mom should be and feel we don’t live up to these unreasonable expectations. As I thought more about this, I went back to what the Music Together teacher said. Our children learn our values by observing our actions. In that moment, it hit me. We are teaching our children how to care deeply about others, the value of hard work, how to face challenges head-on, the value of being bold and brave and always striving to be the best version of ourselves.
Now imagine your children growing up and embodying these qualities and values. Just like you, they are caring, brave, bold, and hardworking. They cannot fail. And you are beaming with pride because of the person they have become. Now all of a sudden, when you have to say no to your child when they ask that you play with them, it doesn’t seem so bad. If you zoom out and look at the big picture, you are modeling wonderful values and attributes. And perhaps when you’re done with your work, you can still find some time to play with them. Making it a win-win. As you go through your week, I’d love for you to reflect on the negative thoughts and feelings that come up around mom guilt. You may even want to write them down, then ask yourself the following questions about each thought. Is this belief based on reality? Would I say these things to a friend in a similar situation? Are there any alternative, more realistic beliefs I could adopt? Try to reframe these negative thoughts and highlight the positives. There is always something positive in every situation.
As we wrap up today’s episode, I want to leave you with a reminder. You’re never alone in this journey. Yes, balancing the demands of motherhood and entrepreneurship can feel like a roller coaster ride, but I want you to take a moment to recognize the strength and resilience that resides within you. Despite the inevitable moments of doubt and guilt, you’re making a profound impact in your family’s life and in the world around you. So the next time those feelings of mom guilt creep in, remember to pause and acknowledge all the incredible things you’re doing. Celebrate each small victory and embrace every challenge as an opportunity for growth. Keep shining your light because the world needs more of your unique brilliance. You’re doing amazing things and I’m so proud of you.
Thank you so much for tuning in to today’s episode of the Blissful Mompreneur Podcast. I hope you found the information valuable and inspiring. Remember, you have the power to step off that hamster wheel, reclaim your time, and find balance in your life. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps me continue to provide valuable content to mompreneurs like you. Until next time, keep pursuing your dreams, finding joy in the journey, and creating a life and business you love. Take care and I’ll see you in the next episode.