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Newsweek
3 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
The Psychology Behind 'Mom Guilt'—And How To Let It Go
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Parenting expert and clinical psychologist Dr. Becky Kennedy says the crushing self-doubt many mothers carry isn't just a side effect of modern parenting—it is a learned mindset that can be unlearned. In her appearance on Jay Shetty's On Purpose podcast this week, Dr. Becky, as she is best known on social media, spoke candidly about "mom guilt," describing it not as a moral failing but as a signal—one that can guide us toward healthier patterns if we listen to it differently. "Guilt is often our brain's way of telling us we've violated our own values," Dr. Becky said. "But, sometimes, it's actually just telling us we've violated someone else's expectation of us, and those aren't the same thing." Stock image: A toddler girl with anxiety is supported and hugged by her mom. Stock image: A toddler girl with anxiety is supported and hugged by her mom. PeopleImages Dr. Becky, who is also the founder of Good Inside, a global parenting and mental-health platform, said that, in today's world—where parenting is more public than ever—many mothers feel they are constantly on trial. Social-media feeds fuel comparison, while cultural narratives set impossible benchmarks for what a "good mother" should be. The result is a constant hum of self-criticism, even when mothers are doing just fine. "If we can pause and ask ourselves, 'Is this guilt coming from my values or someone else's?' We can start to reframe it," Dr. Becky told Shetty. "When it's about my values, guilt can lead to meaningful change. When it's about someone else's, it's just noise." Christina Muller is a licensed workplace mental health expert with postgraduate training in maternal mental health. She told Newsweek that Dr. Becky's distinction is crucial. "As a workplace mental health expert and a mother, I've seen 'mom guilt' firsthand," Muller said. "While it's easy to label it that way, what's often happening is the clash between societal standards and the reality of mothering in an increasingly disconnected yet hyperconnected world." Muller added that much of the emotional confusion comes from valuing performance over quality. "Whether you work at home or outside of it, moments of connection can still happen and leave a lasting impact," Muller said. "We're juggling more balls than ever, but the one we never let drop is what matters most." Both Dr. Becky and Muller point to decades of attachment research showing that children thrive with what is known as "good enough" parenting—a caregiver who is present, attuned and responsive most of the time, rather than perfectly so. "We don't demand perfection in other areas of life, yet we often expect it from mothers," Muller said. "You can have it all, but not all in the same place—and we should be talking about that more." From a clinical perspective, Muller added that persistent mom guilt is often tied to perfectionistic traits and what she calls "performance-over-presence thinking"—measuring yourself by how much you do rather than the quality of your presence. Healthy self-reflection, she said, comes from curiosity rather than judgment, and from asking: "How can I be present right now?" Muller recommended evidence-based strategies such as countering all-or-nothing thinking, taking value-based action and creating small, consistent moments of child-led connection. "Invite your child to take the lead on an activity, and let them choose any topic to talk about without interruption," Muller said. Research shows that these moments build autonomy, strengthen the parent-child bond, and advance long-term emotional regulation, she added. Muller urged mothers to view self-care as essential to parenting well. "If you keep investing in your children over time, you'll see the long-term returns," she said. "And, just as in finance, take some of those dividends and reinvest in yourself."
Newsweek
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Dad Tests Parenting Tip From Internet 14 Years Ago, Results Blow Him Away
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A dad is going viral after sharing a simple parenting tip he "stole," which made his daughter cry 14 years later. In a post on Reddit, u/MYSTERees77 said he had read a comment on the discussion platform how they had received a book called Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss at their high school graduation. The original poster, who did not share any of the names in his family, loved the idea and started the tradition behind the scenes with his then-4-year-old daughter. Stock photo: A woman smiles at her graduation outdoors. Stock photo: A woman smiles at her graduation outdoors. PeopleImages This week, as his daughter graduated high school at the top of her class, decorated with awards, her parents finally presented her with the book—now filled with handwritten messages from every one of her teachers from kindergarten through 12th grade. "At first, [she] thought it was just the book, with the first two pages being recently written notes by her mother and I," the father told Newsweek. "It wasn't until the third page or so that she realized it wasn't just recent teachers, but all her teachers that she started to cry," the dad said. "Then she started laughing when reading some of her favorite teachers' comments." The father said that they had a couple of close calls when it came to keeping the book a secret. "We were lucky that some of their friends had parents who were teachers in the school," he said. "They also went to small public schools where the teachers were all very involved, so getting in touch with their teachers has always been easy. My wife would put it in a manilla envelope and send it to the office." The book even traveled across the world with the family, as the children spent a year living abroad in Austria. "Their teachers in Austria, although they only knew them for a year, had a great sense of the kind of kids they were," the father said. Reflecting on the past 14 years, he added that it made him realize how fast time goes, especially as a parent. "It seemed like only a couple of years ago that I saw a post on Reddit, you blink and they're grown," the dad said. "But, for my daughter's journey, it's been her whole life. And you can see that spunky, delightful, smart little girl with a bob at 4 being the same core person throughout, minus the bob." To those inspired to start the tradition themselves, the father advised parents to start early and be organized. "Inform their teacher at the beginning of the year when you first meet them," he said. "And, most importantly, talk to your kids' teachers!"
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
From cradle to career: Building Louisiana's workforce begins with early learning
PeopleImages/Getty Images As someone who has spent much of my career building businesses and investing in the community, I've learned that success doesn't happen by accident. It results from careful planning, strategic investment and a commitment to long-term growth. This approach applies not only to business but also to our most important resource: our children. The future of our state's economy depends on how well we invest in our youngest citizens, and no investment is more impactful than early childhood education. When families can access reliable, high-quality early education for their children, parents can go to work or school, and businesses thrive with a stable workforce. Most importantly, children enter kindergarten ready to succeed and better prepared to become the skilled workers and leaders of the future that our economy depends on. In pro-family, pro-business states like ours, quality child care should be a cornerstone of family stability, worker productivity, and economic growth. Yet in Louisiana, despite years of progress and bipartisan support for early learning, we still fund this essential system as if it's optional. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Nearly 174,000 children under age 5 in Louisiana are in households experiencing economic hardship, yet only one in five have access to high-quality early childhood education. Programs like Head Start, LA 4, and the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) are funded through federal and state funds and serve thousands of children, yet the demand still outpaces the supply. While the majority of funding for Louisiana's child care programs comes from the federal government, state lawmakers ultimately decide how those dollars are used — and how much more we invest. The quality of our current and future workforce shouldn't be left solely to decisions made in Washington. Despite investments from all levels of government, more than 116,00 economically disadvantaged Louisiana children, from birth to age 4, still lack access to a high-quality, affordable child care program. Any changes in state and federal funding streams directly and immediately impact our working families, who need access to quality child care the most. Due to inadequate funding, many families are left without affordable, high-quality child care options, leaving our children and their working parents behind. Whether we act or not, Louisiana's future workforce is growing up right now. When we make it possible for children to access early learning programs, the data is clear: they are more likely to graduate from high school, secure well-paying jobs, and contribute to their communities. Failure to act leads to costly outcomes for our future communities and economy. But the gap in funding and access isn't just a future problem — it impacts all of us today. Louisiana currently loses an estimated $1.3 billion annually in lost productivity, tax revenue and turnover costs due to inadequate access to child care. Yet, studies show that every dollar invested in early education returns at least 13% due to higher earnings, reduced social and academic remedial costs, and better long-term health outcomes. It's time for Louisiana to treat early childhood education not as an option but as an essential investment in our present and future. This legislative session, Louisiana lawmakers have the opportunity — and the obligation — to sustain and grow investments in early childhood education. Our children deserve a strong start. Our parents deserve the ability to work. And our state deserves a workforce ready to compete. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Toronto Sun
10-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Too busy to get fit? Here's how to work exercise into your packed schedule
Published May 10, 2025 • 4 minute read People work out at a gym. Photo by PeopleImages / iStock / Getty Images Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. You're too busy to exercise, right? Your job consumes all your time. You're strapped by professional and family demands. As you get more and more responsibility, your free time shrinks. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Well, these blockers don't have to be an excuse. Making time simply calls for creativity and a broader understanding of how to get in daily exercise. 'The trap is thinking that exercise must be an hour in the gym,' said Charles Scott, who describes himself as an executive mentor or exercise coach. His message is simple: If you have a very demanding job, you need to find a work-life blend. 'An hour in the gym is exercise,' Scott told The Associated Press. 'But it's just one form of exercise.' Scott coaches about 70 business executives — online and otherwise — and other busy people to improve their physical and professional well-being. He's based in New York and is relatively hardcore about his own exercise but realizes not everyone can be _ or wants to be. He's planning to run across the Grand Canyon in June — the out-and-back version — that covers about 46 miles (74 kilometers). He also has guided his blind friend Dan Berlin on several endurance events including a speed ascent up Mount Kilimanjaro and tandem cycling across the United States with a team of blind cyclists. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Rather than terming it exercise, Scott talks about teaching 'intentional movement' to his goal-driven clients. 'The ambitious person's trap is when you undermine your physical and emotional health in pursuit of your professional goals,' he said. 'It's common in this culture among the executives I mentor.' Scott asks busy people to focus on something other than making money or chasing fame inside the profession. He said he tries to emphasize a holistic approach that includes the emotional, the professional and the physical. 'Our bodies need to move,' he said. 'No matter what age you are, our bodies must move to stay healthy. So if you're not exercising, you're out of alignment.' Alternative exercise for busy people Scott has a list of ways to blend movement into your day without needing a gym. Of course, if you can hit the gym, that's great, too. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He suggests doing one-on-one meetings while you're walking instead of sitting behind the office desk or laptop. Or, he suggests standing rather than sitting when you hold meetings. 'If you want a meeting to be short and efficient, choose the standing conference room,' he said. Or do isometric exercises during a meeting to tone, for instance, your stomach muscles. 'Tighten up your stomach muscles. Hold for 20 seconds and don't hold your breath,' he said. 'Don't make it obvious. Release. Do it again. You'll be sore tomorrow. It burns calories. It tones muscles. And it takes precisely zero seconds out of your I-am-too-busy-to-exercise day.' Ways to blend work and exercise Here are a few more ideas about blending exercise into your work schedule. If your flight is delayed, go for a walk around the airport and add to your daily step count. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Link workouts to daily events. For example, when you wake up, always go for a walk. Or, when you get home from work, do a certain number of pushups after you walk through the door. Make a workout a social event and do it with a friend or a group. Give yourself the title 'athlete' and build habits around that identity. Scott is an advocate of experiencing 'meaningful discomfort,' which he calls the 'birthplace of resilience.' Pay attention to the food you put in your body. Treat your body with respect. Take a quick break from answering emails and do 10 squats or pushups or whatever to add movement. 'In business, many people show up to work and they crank it out all day,' which he termed a 'rookie mistake,' like a newcomer going out too fast at the start of a marathon. 'Then they go home exhausted and they are fussy with the people they love.' The partitioning approach This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. One of Scott's clients is Harrison (Harry) Kahn, the general manager of the Vermont Creamery, an artisanal dairy. Rather than blend, Kahn uses the partition method and awakens at 5 a.m. to get in his exercise, typically running, biking, or popping on skis in the winter in largely rural Vermont. 'I kind of get in the me stuff before the rest of the house wakes up,' he said. He said his wife, Elisabeth, teaches French. She sets off early as they both combine to get their two children ready for school — 11-year-old Iris and 8-year-old Asher. 'Charles has reminded me that life isn't a game of comparison with other people,' he said. 'You have to figure out your own stuff.' Kahn describes himself as a routine-oriented person who is comfortable dividing his day into chapters. Once he's in the office, his attention is the job and 120 employees. 'I'm very focused when I'm at work, so I can get it all in as opposed to going in and out and having the day go on really long.' Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA Columnists Sunshine Girls Columnists
