Guilt

I have been thinking about the concept of guilt lately. . . we all carry some around with us for one thing or another. Even if it's not serious stuff. . . just the little "I should have called so and so back", "I haven't sent that thank you card", "I spent 2 hours on the internet tonight instead of cleaning the kitchen". . . it can get to you.

I have gone through times in my life when I had really legitimate reasons to feel guilt. But lately, it's been less legitimate things, like those I just mentioned. And things like not appreciating motherhood enough. . . And the fact that I'm a WORKING mother (oh, the horror!!)

President Monson gave a talk in conference about finding joy in the journey NOW. . . And rather than actually ABSORB that message. . . I felt GUILTY for not doing that.

And today, after speaking with several different people, and reading several blogs, the ridiculousness of that finally hit me. This is a great example of what I mean, from Chris of Notes From The Trenches:

"I think of a conversation that I had with a friend recently. How middle class mothers have taken to manufacturing things to feel guilty about. Our children are fed, clothed, have all the things that money can buy for them. They are safe and loved. Our days aren’t spent toiling away at some sort of horrible job. We have choices. Choices our grandmothers didn’t have. Something that is both a blessing and a curse.

We don’t have many valid worries and so we manufacture them. We worry about plastic water bottles, excessive high fructose corn syrup consumption, toys made in China, their fragile little psyches. And crafts… we should be doing more. . . crafts. At least that is what all those parenting magazines tell us. We worry about being perfect. When probably, hopefully, in the end none of it is really going to matter.

At least that is what I am telling myself this morning."

Go to her blog and read the whole thing.

I know it probably sounds stupid that I have to consciously talk myself out of feeling guilty. . . but I do. There are so many people out there sending us messages about what is important, I feel like I need to sit down and make a list of what's ACTUALLY important. . . Maybe I'll do that tonight.

But if I don't, I'm not going to feel bad about it.