͞Guilt͟, I know I’ve already expressed this, but I don’t care for that emotion much. Then, add a ͞mom͟ in front of it ͞mom guilt͟! Whoa.It starts almost immediately upon discovering your pregnant. It begins with the guilt of what you should and should not consume when developing your fetus. The ͞do’s͟ and ͞don’ts͟ list of what to eat and drink during pregnancy becomes, notjust your choice, but the opinion of the world! It used to be that women didn’t know better so they would drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, diet with pills, all while pregnant. Studies have definitely proven that these things are not healthy for a developing babies body and mind. I accept! But then, there is the hidden list, that which seems to be created by whomever feels like they want a say so.
This could creep up at times when you least expect it, sometimes from complete strangers. Then, the baby is born and there is a sigh of relief, you think the guilt has ended. The secret no one tells you is, it never ends, it’s just getting started. Breast feeding, can you? Will you? Do you want to? And for how long? OMG. Anyone, mom or dad whose lived through this knows the breast feeding pressures and opinions. ͞Formula͟becomes a bad word. Then the food, organic baby food or not? Food choices in general. The real bomb drops when you decide, do I continue to work??? Ahhhh…the unspoken, opinions and emotions on this issue. It is the gift that keeps giving. In my line of work, I sometimes am required to work on one of my four children’s birthday.
I’m available to celebrate the days and weeks before and after, but just not that one special day. Here’s me, how do I respond? Buying and providing all their favorite indulgence foods. Doughnuts for breakfast, cake or pie at dinner, just to alleviate my guilt.It’s a prime example of making things better with food. For that I am guilty.
