Mom Guilt is Real—But Here’s Why We Need to Let It Go
AZ Diamondback - RF
Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
What a week! I’ve been experiencing a lot of “mom guilt”, and we had a fun weekend! Aiden got to meet AZ Diamondbacks right fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who even signed his baseball card (which we will absolutely be framing). Best part? Mason, his best friend, was in town from Texas, and we had a blast at Round 1.
On Sunday, Aiden and I had a mommy and me date at the Ostrich Festival—something I’ve been meaning to check out for the past 22 years of living in Arizona. Ironically, now that we live even further from the city, we finally made the almost 2-hour drive to get there. And let me tell you, it was worth it. We watched piggy races, conquered all the fun houses, and Aiden finally got to experience the Gravitron—three times in a row. My stomach, however, was **not as resilient.**😵💫
After that, we hit up Scheels, because Aiden wanted to check out baseball gear (naturally). All in all, it was a fantastic weekend packed with memories, laughter, and bonding time.
Then Monday hit, and guess what? RSV took me OUT. 😬
The Spring Break Guilt Spiral
Suddenly, I found myself wracked with mom guilt. I kept thinking about how Aiden’s friends would all go back to school talking about their exciting spring breaks, and meanwhile, his mom was over here downing NyQuil like it was a gourmet cocktail. I felt awful that we weren’t making more memories or doing something “big” for spring break. I mean, I wanted to go on a cruise, but everything is SO expensive right now! So instead, I sat there, coughing and spiraling, thinking about all the ways I was failing at making this break special for him.
Quality Over Quantity: A Mom Lesson in Perspective
But here’s the thing—Aiden has not once complained. Not even a little bit. **If anything, he’s been my little drill sergeant, making sure I’m resting and recovering.**💙 He’s still doing things he loves—practicing his baseball swing, riding his electric scooter, organizing his baseball cards, and catching up with his best friend.
That’s when it hit me: kids don’t need extravagance—they need presence. They need to feel loved, heard, and supported. Sometimes, that’s a vacation. Other times, that’s a movie night in pajamas while mom naps on the couch. And that is more than enough.
EXTRA: As I dropped Aiden off at school yesterday, I asked him if he had a fun Spring Break and I apologized for being sick and we didn’t get to do anything fun. He said to me “Mom, I had the best spring break! I met a baseball player, Mason was here, I rode the Gravitron, I went to visit my old school, went to KTR…It was fun!”
We Can’t Pour from an Empty Cup (And That Includes Skipping Self-Care)
You know what else I completely skipped this weekend? My self-care. Yep, I didn’t even make it to the nail salon because—shocker—I didn’t want to be that person who spreads this CRUD like a modern-day Typhoid Mary. 🧐💅So here I am, rocking grown-out nails and missing my usual self-care rituals.
And listen, I want to remind all of you: I’m far from perfect. Life happens to me too. Even though I write about balance, boundaries, and self-care, sometimes I drop the ball (or in this case, the nail appointment). But here’s what actually matters—how we bounce back.
After feeling like a total mess for days, I finally pulled myself together enough to take a long, much-needed bath. I cranked up the steam in the bathroom like I was recreating a bougie spa day, threw in some eucalyptus, meditated, and just breathed. Pure bliss. And you know what? That small act of self-care reminded me that no matter how much life gets off track, we always have the power to reset.
3 Quick Ways to Reset When You Feel Off-Track
💪 Take a Mindful Moment – Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and take 5 minutes to recenter yourself. It doesn’t have to be fancy—a cup of tea, a slow walk, or even just sitting in silence can help.
📝 Write It Out – Journaling isn’t just for deep thoughts and poetry. Brain-dump everything on your mind onto paper (or your notes app). Sometimes, seeing it written out helps you realize it’s not as overwhelming as it felt.
🏆 Move Your Body (Even Just a Little) – I’m not saying you have to hit the gym mid-flu, but a light stretch, some yoga, or even walking outside for 10 minutes can do wonders for your mood and energy.
✨ Moral of the story? Life isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. Take care of yourself, let go of the guilt, and remember that small moments matter just as much as big ones.
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Disclaimer:
I am not a doctor, psychologist, or licensed therapist. Everything I share is based on my personal experiences and should not be considered professional advice. For personalized guidance, always consult a licensed medical or mental health professional—yes, a real one, not "Dr. Google" or the comment section of social media.
If you're in crisis, please call 911 or reach out to the 988 Lifeline for immediate support. You're not alone, and real help is available.
