Guilty!

Mommy guilt affects all of us at some point. Some get it worse than others, some don't get it enough and some are engulfed by it.

I've had my own share of mommy guilt. Walking away from Marlee on the changing table and her rolling off,  tops my list of recent guilty moments. I did catch her on the way down by smashing her against the table, so I only suffered over that one for a little while. Now, Kaylen's little trip toddling across the road all by herself last summer, I still feel twinges over that one. That could have been really horrible. Praise God for guardian angels! 

Guilt is everywhere. If you don't buy me this, if they don't eat that, if they DO eat that, if they fall, if they cry, if they get upset, throw a tantrum, bonk their head, say a bad word. I mean, if you look for it, you can find guilt in everything. 

Let me challenge you to change your perspective on guilt. Do I love my children too much to let them do wrong without punishment? Guilty. Do I love them too much to let them eat anything they want, and instead feed them things that will help them grow properly? Guilty. Do I love them so much that I want them to grow up learning to walk on their own two feet, rather than clinging to my apron strings til they are grown? Guilty. Do I love them so much I don't let them watch anything they want on tv because I want to protect their eyes and ears from the world? Guilty. 

Things happen along the way, fingers get shut in car doors, kids get left at school, feelings get hurt, people get upset, tears, tummy aches, and fights. It all happens. But do you love your kids so much you want them to learn to deal with disappointment, or to lose gracefully, or to obey a command, or to be happy and grateful and content with what they have? Guilty. So, let those moments come and let them learn those life lessons. 

And relax, they'll be just fine.