Is guilt a mom thing?

[ShwarmaQueen]

I have moments of overwhelming guilt sometimes. Things I could have done different that wouldn't have caused something...I analyze how things might have turned out differently...yada yada.

Sometimes it eats me alive! Is this a mom thing? I never had it before.

[Ravenlunatic]

YEEESSSS!

I feel your pain, as i too feel this kind of guilt. It has been part of my spiritual journey to try and manage this 'new' area of my being. I think it is ingrained, hormonal survival technique or something....

One of the nurses at the birth center where I gave birth told me that "with birth comes guilt" she said it in that grandmotherly type way as she gazed at my beautiful baby while handing her to me.... I was like, what? can you be a little more clear?

Anyway, now I know.

[ShwarmaQueen]

Oh thank you! So at least I'm not alone. I guess the 27 other people who viewed my post and didn't reply don't know what I was talking about.

[Annie Mac]

Oh yeah. Definitely. My family was big on guilt as a disciplinary measure, and I totally internalized it. I have one adult child, and I'm still feeling guilty and responsible for anything that she may feel is wrong with her life (and she uses this, I realize) and a young baby -- it's the feeling that you're responsible for a whole 'nother human being, it opens up new worlds and new realms of guilt.

[ShwarmaQueen]

Originally Posted by Annie Mac

Oh yeah. Definitely. My family was big on guilt as a disciplinary measure, and I totally internalized it.

My mom used guilt as punishment too. And it was totally effective.