31+ Quotes for Mom Guilt That You Need to Hear

Raise your hand if you have experienced any form of parental guilt. *raises hand* …Parental guilt is a real concern that is not talked about enough. When mom guilt hit me, I found daily life challenging. This personal experience is what inspired this collection of quotes for mom guilt.

I went over a year neglecting myself – besides basic hygiene and eating. I felt like I needed to be the best mom to my child. I had to do anything and everything for him and nothing for me.

Want to know a secret? 

It was never enough in my mind. BUT, it was more than enough for my child.

Eventually, you hit a breaking point and you don’t know what to do. You feel lost, angry, overwhelmed, depressed, and even more guilty.

Here is what you can expect to read:

• What is mom guilt?
• How do I manage parental guilt?
• What to tell yourself and do when it all gets overwhelming?
• Genuine, inspirational quotes for mom guilt.

What is Mom Guilt?

Mom guilt (and even dad guilt) is the gut-wrenching sense that you’re not doing enough as a parent. It can show its ugly head at any time.

Some common mom guilt triggers are…

• Going back to work after maternity leave
• Juggling household duties with parenting responsibilities
• Dealing with unwelcome criticism of your parenting choices
• Money struggles

Many mothers find it challenging to find a balance between their roles as parents and their own needs. They feel mom guilt for prioritizing a little self-care once in a while or for being away from their kids.

How Do You Manage Your Mom Guilt?

Managing mom guilt takes a lot of patience with yourself, and willingness to ask for help and treat yourself like you would other moms. A little bit of kindness and understanding goes a long way. Here are some of the methods I used to manage my mom guilt:

#1. Help Yourself First

You need to give yourself a little fresh air every now and then. Self-love and self-care are two of the best ways to love and care for your children.

#2. Share Responsibilities

Ask your partner to assist you with chores and errands if they can. Find one, or two, mom friends if you’re single. You can trade babysitting duties or just hang out while your kids play. It takes a village to raise a child. It takes a community to ensure your mental well-being.

#3. Get Away From Bad Energy

Be in the company of encouraging individuals. It’s alright to stay away from someone if they are judging you or adding to your mom guilt.

#4. Recognize Unreasonable Beliefs

There are numerous ways that irrational beliefs manifest. Recognizing them can be difficult. The best course of action is to reflect on any uncertainties you may have. Ask yourself:

• Would this harm my child?
• Will this hinder my ability to do any tasks?
• What are other parents’ methods for [x]?
• Why am I having doubts?

#5. Avoid Bragging

Each child is special and amazing in their own way. Do not brag to another parent over your child. You might be fueling their mom guilt and making their mental health worse.

#6. Nurture Relationships

How frequently have you noticed other parents giving up on their social lives after having a child? It’s crucial to spend time with your significant other and your pals. You maintain emotional connections while showing your child the value of relationships.

#7. Speak to an Expert

Seek professional assistance if your mom guilt is consuming you or following you around like the plague. You might not realize how terrible your mom guilt is. 

What to Tell Yourself and Do When Mom Guilt Gets Overwhelming?

Feeling a little mom guilt is common. It becomes an issue when you obsess over the little things and lose sight of the bigger picture. 

Are you struggling to:

• Enjoy time with your beautiful child?
• Accept that laundry is not folded and put away yet or that the floors are a little dirty?
• Spend precious time with your child?

Guilt left unchecked can even be harmful, resulting in harmful habits, depression, and other mental health issues.

Tell yourself out loud, right now, “I am not a bad mom. I am a good mom. The fact that I am looking into my mom guilt shows that I care about my children and myself.”

*virtual hugs*

Others things your can tell yourself to help with mom guilt are…

“Everyone needs a break.”

“A little more screentime won’t hurt.”

“My children have what they need.”

“I’m good at [x].”

“My children did not go hungry.”

“I deserve to take care of myself.”

“My children have fun every day.”

Admitting that you need assistance is not a sign of weakness. 

It is a sign of strength.

31+ Genuine Inspirational Quotes You Need to Hear for Mom Guilt

#1. “All moms will experience mom guilt. There is nothing wrong with it. Just don’t let it define you.” – Monica Richards

#2. “The thing about mom guilt is, we all have it. Whether you are a young mom, a single mom, a co-parenting mom, a stepmom, an adoptive mom, a working mom, a stay-at-home mom, or whatever mom you are- we are all connected through the highs and lows of motherhood. We are on this journey that means the world to each of us, so much so that we beat ourselves up when we come up short. We are only human. Empower each other!” – Abbey Williams

#3. “In a child’s eyes, a mother is a goddess. She can be glorious or terrible, benevolent or filled with wrath, but she commands love either way. I am convinced that this is the greatest power in the universe.” – N.K. Jemisin

#4. “Let go of the guilt, the comparison, the worry, and do something simple today: Appreciate one simple thing about yourself. You’re doing the best you know how, and you’re doing pretty great in a lot of ways.” – Carol Tuttle

#5. “Balance is impossible; memories are better.” – Marci Fair

#6. “Good moms have sticky floors, messy kitchens, laundry piles, and happy kids.”

#7. “It’s not difficult to take care of a child; it’s difficult to do anything else while taking care of a child.” – Julianne Moore

#8. “A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path.” – Agatha Christie

#9. “The amazing thing about becoming a parent is that you will never again be your own first priority. The gift of motherhood is the selflessness that it introduces you to, and I think that’s really freeing.” – Olivia Wilde 

#10. “It’s not a bad thing, is it, to be strong in some ways, and fragile and vulnerable in others?” – Jennifer Garner

#11. “You are not a bad mother because you have bad days. You are a human mother, and that’s all there is to it.”

#12. “Parenting is not about perfection, it is about intention and connection.”

#13. “If you are experiencing mom guilt, take a deep breath, and allow it. Do not let it define you. Let it come and go as it pleases.” – Marissa Johnson

#14. “The best mothers are not the ones who have never struggled. They are the ones who have never given up.“

#15. “I remind myself every day that the vision of motherhood in my head – the mom guilt, the imperfection, the worry – isn’t the same version of motherhood that my kids see – a mother who loves them fully and forever, no matter what.” – Housewife Plus

#16. “Live in the moment and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering.” – Fanny Crosby 

#17. “One day you will realize that all that time you spent focusing on what you did wrong was all for nothing.”

#18. “To the mamas who are having hard days: A bad day doesn’t make you a bad mom.”

#19. “There is no perfect way to be a mother and a million ways to be a good one.” – Jill Churchill

#20. “Mama, you are exactly what your child needs. Don’t feel guilty or bad about anything you do.”

Quotes About Mom Guilt for the Working Mom

#21. “There’s no such thing as a guilt-free working mom. You will always feel like you are choosing between your employer and your family. Choose your family every time.” – Lauren Tingley

#22. “Being a working mom doesn’t mean my family isn’t my first priority.”

#23. “Be a woman who wakes up with purpose and intent. Be that woman who shows up and never gives up. Be that woman who believes anything is possible and is willing to work for it.”

#24. “A happy mother is a good mother, and if work makes you hum, your whole family sings along.” – Sharon Meers

#25. “A queen will always turn pain into power.”

#26. “I am not a bad mom because I work, and I am not a bad employee because I am a mom.”

#27. “As a working mother you’re teaching your children that we don’t just have things handed to us, and we have to work for the things we want.” 

#28. “I am not a bad mom because I work, and I am not a bad employee because I am a mom.”

#29. “You are not a bad mom because you go to work each day. Similarly, you are not a failure because you left your career altogether. Choices regarding work and family are personal – there is no one size fits all method. Anyone who tells you otherwise is wrong.” – Candace Alnaji 

#30. “She’s got that whole purpose-driven, change-making, warrior princess, super-mom thing going on.”

#31. “Balance is not better time management, but better boundary management. Balance means making choices and enjoying those choices.” – Betsy Jacobsen

Quotes About Mom Guilt for Moms Who Need Encouragement

#32. “The very fact that you worry about being a good mom means you already are one.”  – Jodi Picoult

#33. “I had no idea it would be this much. I had no idea I could handle it. I had no idea how beautiful it all actually is.” – Tyler Knott Gregson

#34. “I will be your biggest fan. I will be your protector. I will always defend you. I will be your teacher. I will be your friend. I will be your confidant. I will always be proud of you. I will love you unconditionally because forever and always I will be your mama.”

#35. “I’m not a good mom. I’m not a bad mom. I’m the mama I am and I try very hard, and when I fail, that’s ok.” – Kristen Bell

#36. “A happy home starts with a happy mom.”

#37. “Successful mothers are not the ones who have never struggled. They are the ones who never gave up despite the struggles.” -Sharon Jaynes

#38. “It’s ok to have strengths and weaknesses as a mama. Some mamas play games, others listen well, some cook with love, and others are great encouragers. We don’t have to be everything, every day to our kids. We just need to show up and love them hard.”

#39. “Kids don’t need a perfect mama. They need a happy one.”

#40. “Everything I do serves a purpose for my family.” 

#41. “I want my child to say, “My mom was a strong mom, and I am who I am because of her strength and dedication.”

#42. “The best views come after the hardest climbs.”

Quotes About Mom Guilt for the Moms Who Need a Laugh

#43. “A toy Tamagotchi is more communicative than a human baby, OK? Because the toy will at least tell you when it poos.” – Ali Wong

#44. “You don’t realize how many people you dislike….until you have to name a baby.”

#45. “I live in a madhouse run by a tiny army that I made myself.”

#46. “If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.”

#47. “Mamas don’t sleep. They just worry with their eyes closed.”

#48. “I don’t want to sleep like a baby. I want to sleep like my husband!”

#49. “When your mom voice is so loud even the neighbors brush their teeth and get dressed.”

#50. “Spit-up is my new favorite accessory; no outfit is complete without it.”

#51. “The majority of my diet is made up of foods that my kid didn’t finish.” – Carrie Underwood

#52. “Sleep at this point is just a concept, something I’m looking forward to investigating in the future.” – Amy Poehler

#53. “Ah, babies. They’re more than just adorable little creatures on whom you can blame your farts.” – Tina Fey

#54. “Like all parents, my husband and I just do the best we can, and hold our breath, and hope we’ve set aside enough money to pay for our kids’ therapy.” – Michelle Pfeifer

#55. “I always say if you aren’t yelling at your kids, you’re not spending enough time with them.” – Reese Witherspoon

#56. “I’ve conquered a lot of things … blood clots in my lungs — twice … knee and foot surgeries … winning Grand Slams being down match point … to name just a few, but I found out by far the hardest is figuring out a stroller!” – Serena Williams

#57. “Children are like crazy, drunken small people in your house.” – Julie Bowen

How to Cope With Mom Guilt

Even though mom guilt is common, it presents itself to us in ugly ways. It can sometimes be overwhelming.

But the [sort of] good news is that WE ALL EXPERIENCE IT… No matter how rich or poor, famous or infamous, or experienced with kids you are… every mom will go through mom guilt at one point or another.

These moments with our children do not last long. And mom guilt steals some of this time away from us.

Do not be afraid to ask for help or to prioritize yourself. Remember, it is okay to take time for yourself. Forgive yourself. Embrace yourself. Be the best YOU that you can be.

You are a great mom (and dad, too, if you are a dad reading this). 

Don’t be afraid to get more help if you feel like you need it.

P.S. I wrote most of this blog nursing my sleeping toddler on my lap. So, if you are struggling to get anything done, I get it! I see you mama! You are awesome!