Motherhood involves a significant identity transformation. While becoming a mother is incredibly fulfilling, your new role can also be a source of worry and self-doubt.
One Norwegian study followed nearly 85,000 women during pregnancy and the first few years of their children’s lives. According to their findings, a woman’s self-esteem is linked to relationship satisfaction. It falls during pregnancy and rises throughout the first six months of her child’s life. It then steadily declines over the following years, reaching its lowest point around the child’s third birthday.
But why do women experience insecurity and poor self-esteem after becoming mothers?
Mom-Worth Doubts: Am I Good Enough?
Are you overly concerned that you are not doing things right as a parent? Do you feel disconnected from your spouse and children or fear that your kids don’t like you? You can’t recall the last time you enjoyed a lovely meal, laughed with them, or felt at ease in their company.
It is usual for parents to experience worry and self-doubt about whether they are good parents to their children. But what happens when this anxiety affects your mood, relationships, and daily life? And where do these mom-worth issues come from anyway?
Self-Limiting Beliefs
This anxiety, though, may arise from the deep-seated belief that you are not good enough, failing, or not deserving of love and respect. As a result, many women face self-worth difficulties due to skewed perceptions of themselves due to these self-limiting ideas.
Working with a qualified coach can help you work through past painful experiences, debunk self-limiting beliefs, and heal your relationship with yourself.
Unattainable Goals and Expectations
Their own unreasonable expectations as well as those placed on moms by society can contribute to low self-esteem and self-worth issues.
In modern society, mothers are held to exceptionally high standards in their various roles. You are expected to be a flawless caregiver, home economist, lover, and career woman. You should never slip up in your personal or professional life. You make sure you keep your emotions buttoned up and keep your children, house, and appearance spotless.
These unrealistic standards can make women feel inadequate and undeserving of recognition and praise.
Parenting coaching may be the right place to learn how to prioritize your needs, overcome anxiety, and improve your self-worth.
Comparing Yourself to Others
Since the introduction of social media, there has been a significant increase in the amount of pressure placed on women. Do you become depressed and anxious, or at least uncomfortable, looking at all those images of flawless mothers and their seemingly perfect family lives?
It’s so easy today to fall into the comparison trap and feel like a failure compared to those idealized images.
You might feel better if you keep reminding yourself that the photos on social media are filtered versions of real life.
You Can Get Past Anxieties Regarding Your Mom’s Value
Being a good parent is not about being perfect in every way. It is about loving yourself, your children, and your family and raising your kids to be stable, healthy, and happy adults.
So, here are some things to keep in mind.
Parenting is hard work
You are taking on a big responsibility as a parent, and you are trying your best. Therefore, you ought to give yourself credit for everything, no matter how big or small, that you do right. Prioritize self-care. Giving yourself an emotional, mental, and physical break is essential for your well-being.
Humans are Bound to Make Mistakes
No one is Perfect
We all make mistakes, and that’s normal. What is important is to recognize your mistakes, learn from them, and then move on.
You Don’t Have to Struggle Alone
Consider seeking assistance from a life coach if you need guidance or support. A skilled professional can help set realistic expectations, prioritize self-care, and work through your deep-rooted issues with self-worth.
Kamini Wood, a certified professional coach, helps people take the courageous steps to identify their limiting beliefs, the reasons for their stagnation or feelings of not enoughness, so they can have what they want professionally and personally to live a fulfilled life.
She is the creator of AuthenticMe® and CEO of Live Joy Your Way, a coaching company helping high performers and overachievers who have seen success through old-rooted, traditional metrics, reestablish their relational self-awareness. Her best-selling book is Om: Life’s Gentle Reminders – for more information visit www.kaminiwood.com
