We all doubt our parenting capabilities sometimes.

There will always be a sense of hesitation and a lack of certainty around parenting. There is not one parent out there who can say with one hundred percent certainty that they have not made any mistakes.⁣

Parenting is hard. Night wakings and poopy diapers are intense. Not knowing whether to sleep-train or co-sleep, whether to feed with breast or bottle. IT’S. NEVER. ENDING.

I’ve been a mom for sixteen years. I have a Master’s Degree and lots of early childhood experience. I’m a mom to three children and an aunt to ten. I’m pretty good with kids and I know a lot about play and development. But, let me tell you…. IT IS STILL NEVER-ENDING. The overwhelming parenting decisions that we make every single day can feel insurmountable.

This is what I try to tell myself when I am experiencing the inevitable mountain of self-doubt:

I am a good and capable mom. I love my kids and I make the best choices I can with the information I have available to me.

It’s okay to make mistakes. I am teaching my children that perfection doesn’t exist.

I’m still learning about being a parent. I am still learning about my child. It would be impossible for me to always make the right choices.

Every child is different and every person’s experience as a parent is different, so no one can tell you exactly what to do for your unique child.

It’s okay to experience self-doubt.

It’s okay to cry.

It’s normal that you are tired and overwhelmed.

When I mess up, which is pretty much every day, here’s what I tell my kids,

“I am still learning about being your mom. I am still learning about how to take care of you. I don’t always make the right choices. Everyone makes mistakes, even grownups.”