Three Reasons Why Working Mothers Feel Guilty and How to Deal with It

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Mothers can feel guilty about all kinds of things—things within their control and things outside of their control. Guilt can be a common symptom of the postpartum period. Mothers often strive to meet unrealistic expectations of parenting. When they don’t reach these unattainable goals, intense feelings of guilt arise. In this post, I will explore some of the reasons why mothers feel guilty, specifically when returning to work. 

Jill* came to see me for therapy at the end of her maternity leave. Jill, who had never experienced anxiety before, was suddenly suffering from shortness of breath, racing heart, difficulty breathing and intense feelings of guilt in anticipation of returning to work and leaving her newborn son. 

Two-thirds of mothers return to work within one year of giving birth and the majority of these women return to the same jobs. While the experiences, conditions, and circumstances of working vary, many women, like Jill, experience guilt—feeling they are causing harm or doing something wrong.

Guilt #1: Leaving My Baby With Someone Else

“What’s the point of having a baby if I am going to leave him every day?” Jill asked. Often working mothers feel guilty leaving their babies in the care of others. However, most children under the age of 5 years old receive childcare from someone other than a parent, whether through day care centers, nurseries or with nannies. 

Infants and children do well with a loving caregiver, whether a parent or another provider. In fact, your child may actually benefit from a healthy and loving relationship with another adult. Furthermore, research suggests that using childcare can have social, psychological and financial benefits for both children and parents.

Guilt #2: I’m Not Good Enough

Many mothers strive for perfection, which sets women up to feel disappointed, frustrated, and ashamed. Rebecca* was looking forward to returning to work after being on maternity leave with her newborn son and toddler but soon discovered that she was not the same employee as before. It was no longer realistic for her to be the first one in the office and the last to leave. 

Whether you are elated or anxious to be back at work, it is important to be realistic and patient with yourself. You are not the same person as you were before you left, and that is okay. Additionally, you are returning to work with new skills gained in motherhood, such as multitasking, delegation, time-management, saying “no” and fully committing when you say, “yes.”  

Guilt #3: Failing at Work-Life Balance

When you think of work-life balance you probably think of equality in both work and life. Unfortunately, this rarely happens. Instead, think about work-life balance in more flexible and realistic terms—sometimes work triumphs over life and other times life wins overwork.

When you are at work, try to be 100% focused. When you’re home, try to be 100% present—don’t check work emails or take work calls. If the work-life wins and losses feel about even, then you have achieved work-life balance. 

Keep in mind that working is not the same as self-care. You still need time for yourself, whether taking a workout class, grabbing dinner with friends, or squeezing in a manicure. 

 

Try these tips when returning to work:

• Choose all of your outfits for the week before returning, ensuring the clothing fits your body now
• If you are breastfeeding, practice pumping at home. Find out the best place to pump at work and pack all of your supplies the night before.
• When coworkers ask how you are doing, have one short and positive line ready, such as “It’s good to be back.”
• Take breaks and call your partner or supportive person to hear a friendly voice
• Place a photo of your baby on your desk
• Ask your caregiver to occasionally send photos, but try not to FaceTime 
• Learn to say,  “no” and not over-commit 
• Spend quality time with your baby when you return home—the laundry and dishes can wait
• Take time for yourself 
• Find your own version of balance 

*Names and identifying information have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals 

References:

Population Reference Bureau (2012). More mothers of young children in U.S. workforce. Retrieved from www.prb.org

Glynn, S (2012). Fact sheet child care: Families need more help to care for this children. Center for American Progress. Retrieved from https://cdn.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/ChildCareFactsheet.pdf

Small, M (2014). The ties that bind: How childcare centers build social capital. Huffington Post. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mario-luis-small/the-ties-that-bind-how-ch_b_4228843.html