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Five things mums should never feel guilty about.

We all feel guilty. But enough is enough.

As mums, we are spoiled for choice when it comes to feeling guilty. But when it comes to taking time out for ourselves, guilt is a wasted emotion. Getting some time away from the kids does wonders for our perspective and offers some much needed respite.

Here are five things you shouldn’t waste time feeling guilty about:

1. Wanting a break from it all.

The thing with parenting is that can be so relentless. Kids by their nature are needy and aren’t too interested in how busy your head is. When I tuck my eldest up in bed at night, I feel really envious, watching him snuggle down into his blankets and cuddling his teddies. I would love to disappear into a big cuddly bed full of teddies. At 7.30pm. Maybe I should look into it.

In any case, it’s completely normal to feel like escaping now and then. Motherhood is full-on. If you feel like a break, see what you can do about taking one.

"The thing with parenting is that can be so relentless. Kids by their nature are needy and aren't too interested in how busy your head is."

2. Looking forward to bedtimes.

Speaking of bedtimes, do you start watching the clock around the late afternoon, counting down the minutes until your kids are in bed? Guess what? Most of us mums do this. It doesn't mean you don't love them or want to spend time with them, it just means you value your recharge time.

You give your family the best of you all day. Enjoy your downtime in the evening. The next morning, you'll feel refreshed enough to greet your little ones with a big 'I missed you!' smile. Well, you will after a coffee, anyway.

3. Wanting to do some things without the kids.

For me, this is grocery shopping. There is a huge difference between going to the shops for milk and bread alone, and going when you've got children with you. To start with, adding a child to the mix will easily add half an hour to the expedition. It will also double the spending on groceries. It may or may not include an emergency hunt for a toilet, the loss of one toy that I should never have let them convince me to bring out of the car in the first place, and the replacement of shoes on feet at least twice.

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Sometimes I just want to get milk and bread.

"Sometimes I just want to get milk and bread."

4. Being a working mum.

Whether you have to work to bring in the money or you choose to work because you love it, there's a good chance you enjoy the adult time you get when you go there.

At the end of the day, working means you're providing for your kids, which isn't such a bad thing. And if you love what you do, the kids will benefit from your positive energy, as well as learn along the way that work can be very satisfying.

Also, it's very likely that people at your work will call you by your actual name, not 'Mummy'. Bonus.

Watch Victoria Beckham talk about feeling guilty for being a working mum. Post continues after video...

https://youtu.be/FHgvTrtAtwg

5. Relishing in friendship dates.

I know myself enough to know that I need time out with friends. It might not happen very often these days, but when a friendship date gets booked, I am very unlikely to break it. Getting out with a close friend gives me much needed space to vent and laugh and experience the real world for a bit.

The best thing is that as well as touching base with a good friend, I miss my kids like mad, which is a welcome change if they've been driving me up the wall.

What makes you feel guilty as a mother? How can you work to feel less guilty?

Like this? Try:

This is the real reason working mothers feel guilty.

5 things parents need to stop saying to non-parents.