Mom guilt.
I can’t shake it.
It’s there every time I turn around.

What my kids eat.
What I eat.
What we should be eating that we don’t.
Organic? GMOs? Antibiotics and growth hormones?
Stress.
Some days I just want Oreos.

Milestones and growth charts.
Do we vaccinate or not?
Babywearing. Sleep habits.
Breastfeeding. Bottle feeding.
Stress.
I should be savoring these moments, right?
Some days I just want to sleep.

Looks from other moms at the playground.
Judgment from older folks at a restaurant.
Advice from a lady with three dogs and no kids.
Stress.
Some days I just want to hide at home.
(But then I feel lonely.)

Laundry piles. I’m so behind.
To-do lists and should-do lists.
How to clean, what to clean, when, and why.
Kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, living area, repeat.
There’s never an end to bringing order!
Something always seems to suffer.
Some days that something is me.

Homework battles.
Homework battles!
When will summer be here?
When will summer be over?

They’ve been on screens too long.
Have they played outside?
Have long have they been reading?
Academics. Sports. Therapies. Lessons.
Stress.
I just want to let my kids be kids.

Mom guilt.
I can’t shake it.
It’s there every time I turn around.
But so is grace.