How to move past ‘mom guilt’ in a world that thrives on it

“Mom guilt” is such a familiar phrase that we rarely stop to ask what it really means—or why it’s so persistent. It describes that quiet, gnawing feeling that many mothers carry: that we’re not doing enough, not present enough, not loving, patient, or creative enough. That we’re falling short, even when we’re doing our best.

But what if that guilt isn’t just about personal choices? What if it’s not a private emotional shortcoming, but a reflection of something much larger—cultural messages...