Moms are by nature guilty people. Have you ever battled mommy guilt? We are often way too hard on ourselves. But there are some things moms should never feel guilty about.

I’m sure this list could be much longer, so feel free to add your own in the comment section.

Mommy Guilt: 10 Things Moms Should Never Feel Guilty About:

1. Working outside the home

I’m a stay-at-home mom, so this one is not a struggle for me (See #2). But I’m pretty sure most working moms have struggled with this at some point in their lives.

They feel guilty for not being home but at the same time feel like they need to work. Or maybe they don’t need to work for the income but feel like they are better moms-better people-when they work.

Working gives them some much-needed adult time and allows them to use their giftedness so that when they come home, they are energized and ready to be a great momma.

If either of these describe you (you work because you need the income or you work because you enjoy your job), DON’T feel guilty.

Just be the best mom you can be when you are at home.

2. Not working outside the home

Here’s my struggle. I feel guilty because I don’t provide a significant amount of income.

It’s tempting to feel like my input to our family is minuscule. But, one thing I have to remind myself of is this: at least we’re not spending any money on childcare 🙂

And, this is what we have chosen to do.

Is it hard at times? Absolutely! But it’s what we’ve chosen (WE, as a team) so my husband supports me staying at home.

3. Getting a babysitter

If you’re married, you need to date your spouse on occasion-without a child tagging along. Don’t feel bad for taking a night away.

Even if you’re not married, some time away from your child will leave you feeling much more refreshed and ready to take on another day. 

4. Having a life outside of your family

Hobbies aren’t bad. Neither are sports, television, or days at the spa.

These things, when done in a balanced way, can help a tired parent unwind.

Plus, your children will only live in your home for twenty years or so. I know that may sound like a long time now, but soon enough, they’ll be gone.

What will your life look like then if you refuse to have a life outside of your kids now?

5. Spending too much one-on-one time with your child

I know this sounds weird, but when we only had one child and I was staying at home with him, I sometimes worried I was spending too much time with him.

What if I was damaging him socially? What if I was making him too dependent on me? What if I was crippling him for life later on?

If this is a struggle for you too, rest assured: you’re not ruining your child. Years down the road, you’ll be thankful you spent so much time with him.

6. Taking a nap while your child naps

So what if your laundry is higher than your three-foot tall child? So what if the house is a mess?

Believe me, it’ll still be there when you wake up, so why not enjoy thirty minutes of peace and quiet? I have NEVER regretted taking a nap. But I have regretting overworking myself to exhaustion.

7. Allowing your child to watch TV

I think this is a huge one for first-time parents. We think we’ll damage our children if we let them watch television. Of course, a TV should never be used as a babysitter, and it shouldn’t be watched non-stop.

But every so often, there’s nothing wrong with a little bit of Sesame Street or Sid the Science Kid.

8. Not eating organic and/or making your own baby food

If you have the money and time to eat organic or make your own baby food, that’s wonderful. Go for it!

But if you don’t, it’s okay. Don’t beat yourself up about feeding your child canned baby food. Thousands of children who never ate organic turned out just fine.

(I could write an entire post about moms feeling guilty for not nursing, but that pretty much fits here too. As long as you’re feeding your child, you don’t need to feel guilty about how you’re doing it!)

9. Not using cloth diapers

Again, if you have the money up-front to buy cloth diapers and the time to do the extra laundry, this is a great option (and will likely end up saving you money in the long run).

But if it’s not something you want to do, there’s nothing wrong with disposable diapers. As long as you’re changing your baby when he needs changed, there’s nothing to feel bad about.

10. Saying “no” to your child

Your job isn’t to be your child’s friend. As much as I want to make my sons happy, that’s not my primary job.

My job is to raise them into men of God. And sometimes, that means I have to tell them no.

Giving them everything they want won’t teach them anything. At least not anything I want them to learn.

What are some other things you think moms should never feel guilty about? 

*This post was originally published in 2011 and has been updated.