That Constant "Am I Even Doing This Right?" Loop? Yeah, Same

Some days you're crushing it. You pack the lunch, sign the form, and remember library day. You even find the missing sock. Other days, it's cereal for dinner, and you're hiding in the toilet scrolling memes to survive bedtime.

And somehow, no matter what kind of day it is, the thought creeps in, "Am I even a good mom?"

You overthink the tone of your voice from three days ago. You replay your reaction to that tantrum in the parking lot. You second-guess every decision from what you packed for lunch to how long they were on the iPad.

Meanwhile, you're holding an entire household together on the emotional stamina of a phone at 4% battery.

But plot twist! You're actually doing great!

Seriously.

And here's a friendly reminder for you.

You are already an incredible mom. Not because you're perfect (n.o.b.o.d.y is!). But because you show up. Even when you're not.

10 Signs You're an Amazingly Incredible Mom

Here are 10 everyday things you do that prove it, even if your brain keeps trying to convince you otherwise.

You Feel Guilty For Needing Space

Wait...what?

You mean needing a break from your own kids doesn't make you a monster?

I mean...you love your kids more than life, but also, sometimes, if one more person says "mom" before you've had a proper pee, you might walk into the sea!

You need quiet. You need a second, a minute, where no one is asking for snacks or bleeding or screaming about a missing something.

And then, of course, without fail, the guilt kicks in.

Because you're a mom and somewhere deep in the cultural brain fog is the lie that loving your kids = never wanting a break from them. Which is garbage!

Needing space isn't bad. It's basic math. You give 100% all the time, so you need to refill at some point. And the guilt? Weirdly, that's just proof of how much you care.

You wouldn't feel bad if you didn't love so hard. So yeah, take that solo walk. Lock the bathroom door. Listen to that crime podcast while pretending to fold laundry. It's fine. You're fine. You're still an incredible mom.

You Show Up Even When You're Running Empty

You're exhausted. Your toddler was up at 2am with a fever. Your tween is emotionally unstable over a pencil, and you can't remember if you brushed your teeth.

And you're still here. You still pack the lunch. You still do the drop-off. You still nod through the 45-minute Lego explanation or decode why the blue cup is now the worst cup in the world.

You might feel like you're not doing anything heroic. But you're carrying a whole emotional support system on your back while running on empty fumes.

The world doesn't see this stuff. Nobody sees it. No claps.

But it counts. Every small thing you complete while running on zero is a silent gold star on your parenting resume.

You're not just functioning, you're loving through exhaustion. And that's next-level momming.

You Question Yourself Constantly, But Keep Loving Anyway

The fact that you question yourself doesn't mean you're failing. It means you care. A lot.

You think about your kids' feelings at 1am. You rehearse conversations in your head. You replay what you said at pickup.

You replay and rehearse over and over as if you're prepping evidence for a trial.

"Was I too hard?" "Did I mess that up?" "Should I have said yes to the slime?"

The thing is, it's absolutely normal to doubt yourself. It's actually part of being a good mom. You care, so you reflect. You're constantly overthinking because you want to do better. After all, these are human beings you're raising.

You shouldn't be chasing after perfection. That's not the most important. What is, is that you keep loving them. Through your confusion, your guilt, your second-guessing.

Your kids don't need a flawless mom. They just need you. The real, messy, doing-her-best you.

You Give Them Freedom Even When It Breaks Your Heart

There's a special kind of pain that comes with letting go in small doses. The first time they go to school, the first time they say, "I want to do it myself", the first time they don't need your help and actually mean it.

Your heart screams, "NOT READY!!!" But your face smiles and says, "You've got this, baby".

That split-second bravery? That's huge. You need to understand that you're just keeping them safe, you're helping them grow.

It does hurt. And no, it doesn't get easier. Trust me. But each time you loosen up those strings and let them go a little further, you're doing something incredibly selfless.

You're making space for them to become who they're meant to be.

And that's what incredible moms do. Even when it makes your chest ache.

You Cry When No One's Watching

The bathroom is where a lot of moms fall apart. Where else is there? Or maybe in your car in the Target parking lot, or the office parking lot.

You keep it together all day. There's a whole list of things that you've probably gone through. Tantrums, difficult drop-offs, broken something at home that needs fixing, dinners, long homework nights.

Then, in the quiet, it hits.

The pressure. The loneliness. The "what am I even doing?"

So cry. In the care. In the bathroom. Because you've been strong for too long. And the fact that you hold it together for them, even when you're falling apart inside?

That's powerful mom energy.

You Put Your Needs First Sometimes

You finally say no to another playdate. You decided to choose rest over productivity. You skip the family outing and stay home alone.

And instantly, that voice shows up, "Wow, selfish much?"

But it's not selfish. It's needed. Almost essential. Moms aren't robots. You need food, sleep, breaks, and a full reset sometimes. Just like everybody else. You choosing you isn't abandoning them. It's you sustaining yourself so you can keep showing up.

Your kids watch you, and they learn from you. When they see you choose to make space for your own needs, they learn to do the same thing. And that's how we raise kids who know how to find balance and don't burn out.

So even if it feels weird, even if you feel guilt, choosing to put yourself first sometimes is a sign that you actually know what you're doing.

You Doubt Your Worth, But Your Kids Think The World Of You

You doubt if you're doing enough. They think you hung the moon.

You think you're messing up their childhood. They think you invented pancakes and hugs.

You see all the flaws, but they just mom.

Your worth isn't in how clean your house is or whether you gave them breakfast for dinner. It's in how you love them. And when they give you a sticky note that says "I love you" in backwards letters, then you realize that they do actually see you. All of you. And they think you're magic.

If only we could see ourselves through our kids' eyes for five minutes, we'd all be walking around like queens!

You Blame Yourself For Stuff That Was Never Yours

Your kid is sad, you assume it's something that you did. They're mad, you think you failed.

Or they're struggling in school, and you spiral, thinking, "Did I not read to them enough? Did I mess up their bedtime routine? Is it the screen time?!"

Stop!

Guess what? Kids have moods. They have bad days. They have big feelings. Even on good days. They have issues that are theirs and not yours.

You're there to support them. You're their guide. Not solve everything.

So give yourself a break. You can't carry it all.

You Celebrate Their Wins Even When You're Grieving Yourself

They score a goal. You cheer like your life depends on it. They pass a test. Your heart is literally so proud it's trying to jump out of your body. Full body excitement. You'd throw confetti if you weren't the one who'd have to vacuum it!

But quietly, maybe you miss the old version of you. With your own achievements. That version of you that's buried under the mental load. Before everything was about sippy cups and science projects.

You're thrilled for them and sad for you. And that's okay. It doesn't make you selfish.

It makes you layered.

And the fact that you keep showing up for their happiness when you yourself feel a little lost? That is unconditional love. And that's what makes you the kind of mom they'll never forget.

You Keep Going Even When You Don't Really Recognize Who You Are Anymore

Some days you forget what you used to enjoy. You answer to "mom" more than your own name. You're someone's mom. Someone's snack-bringer. Someone's emotional anchor.

You used to be someone else. Someone with dreams and playlists and a brain that wasn't cluttered with grocery lists.

And yet, you still get up. You keep going. You love them. You try. Even when you're not sure who exactly you are anymore.

That? That makes you incredible.

Because it's easy to show up when life is clear and energy is high. But you? You show up anyway, in the best version of 'yourself'.

So, What's the Real Definition of an "Incredible Mom"?

It's not about being calm every single minute of every single day.

It's not perfect meals, spotless floors, or fully engaged activity-filled bonding sessions.

It's this: It's crying in the care and still showing up for bedtime.

It's overthinking everything and still loving through it.

It's feeling invisible and still cheering the loudest.

A lot of moms say they constantly feel like they're not doing enough. But that feeling? It's just proof of how much you care.

So next time your brain tells you you're messing it up, remind it that your kid thinks the world of you. The way they light up when you walk in the room? That says more than your inner critic ever will.

You're not failing. You're just feeling. And that's part of being a really, really good mom.

Because you are.

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