4. So-So Kitchen Skills
It's not 1940 anymore. Women simply aren't taught cooking as an essential skill when we're young, and most of us get along just fine. Sometimes, though, you might feel a pang of envy for the mom (or dad) who has the time and talent to crank out beautiful, organic dinners for the family. Maybe being a gourmet chef isn't you, or maybe you just don't have the time or energy at the end of the day. As long as your kids are getting adequate nutrients and growing at a steady pace, don't sweat it.
5. Your Job
Feeling guilty about being a working mom is so prevalent these days, it has its own name: "working mother guilt." Interestingly enough, we hardly ever hear about working father guilt. Hard-working men are considered honorable providers who set a good example of a work ethic for their kids. Maybe it's time we felt some of that high esteem for ourselves.
6. Your Child's Challenging Behavior
Despite our best parenting efforts, kids don't always act the way we'd like them to. From a toddler's grocery store meltdown to a teenager's being ... well, a teenager, we have plenty of cringe-worthy public moments to deal with. With your help, your child will most likely grow out of whatever troublesome phase they are going through. Any parent you think might judge you has likely been in your shoes at one time or another.
7. Not Having The Newest/Best Stuff
It's easy to give into a case of gimmes when there's just so much kid stuff out there, but don't let guilt get the best of you if you can't (or choose not to) be a big spender. We live in a prosperous country, and it's highly unlikely your children lack any basics. Educational video games are great, but you can engage a young child's mind just as well with a few basic tools and your own imagination. Teaching older kids the value of money by having them save for luxuries will help them build character. And don't forget kids' infamous short attention span. No matter how cool or trendy the item, it most likely would have ended up gathering dust in the corner sooner rather than later.
