To ask what you feel guilty about as a parent..if anything

[Mollie12]

That’s it really…I struggle with guilt so bad

But I think it’s best not to dwell on guilt. Ruminating doesn’t generally help and half the things we feel guilty about our children have barely noticed (or even positively like!)

Depression - sometimes I don't hide it as well as I should

Sharing time between them - eldest is autistic, middle one was anorexic, youngest diabetic.

I now have panic attacks that I could hide before Corona - they shouldn't have to witness me having an attack during something as pointless as buying bread or making a further dentist appointment

I think the list would be shorter for what I don't feel guilty about.

@Footnote

I don’t have any guilt. I try to do my best and that’s enough for anyone.

Same. I don't really have mum guilt on a day to day basis? I can think of a few times when specific things have happened and I felt bad, but it's not an everyday thing.

Not pushing them to do more sports/outdoorsy/extra curricular stuff
Exposing them to alcohol
Being distracted by work/phone/housework etc
Arguing in front of them

So many things, some rational, some not. Tonight for example I haven’t slept very well as the presence of a cot etc has made it more real to my son that his sister will becoming home at some point.

Having to work, which is stupid because without work he’d have nowhere to live, no moneu for food, clothes etc.

A big one is that he only has one parent and a very small family, I worry that as he becomes older his support network will be very small and I see that as my fault, if I’d said no he would probably have had a bigger family.

I find writing worries down helps me, I then write down the worst case scenarios, best case and decide what I think is the most likely outcome.

I've toddler twins. I feel guilty about:

• they don't have a dad
• do I brush their teeth correctly
• do I do enough to help them learn their letters/numbers
• one is very shy and lockdown hasn't helped - do I do enough to help her socialization
• would they be better in a Creche, rather than a nanny at home
• I prepare all food from scratch, but am I including enough variety/spices etc

Our financial situation.
I can’t work presently as I have no one to look after my son. I always said I didn’t want to rely on benefits, but I’ve ended up there because I put my trust in the wrong person.

I’m careful with my money, my son doesn’t go without. He has food, clothes, toys. And I’m lucky that I have family who buy him anything he needs.
But it doesn’t feel good to rely on anyone else, and the low finances means I can’t do as many things with him as I would like.
I wish I could take him on more days out.

It’s not forever, and as soon as I can work I’ll be in a different situation, but I’m well aware of how people in my current situation are viewed.

Being unable to breastfeed enough after a traumatic birth followed by baby being ill 😢 it doesn't help that there's zero support for those struggling with breastfeeding other than trying to force you to breastfeed.

I feel guilty about not loving my son in those first few months.
I still feel guilty that maybe I don't love him like I should