Worrying is something that almost every parent has in common; we worry about whether we are spending enough time with our children, we feel guilty when we make mistakes and compare ourselves unfavourably to those around us. While most of us are good at treating others with kindness and understanding, it seems that we’re not so good at showing ourselves the same level of compassion.

The reality is that by feeling guilty and worrying all the time, we are not doing ourselves or our children any favours. If our kids see that we are stressed out from giving ourselves a hard time every time we make a mistake, then they are likely to adopt the same behaviour, and may even develop a fear of making mistakes themselves. That’s why it’s so important that we try to embrace our mistakes and show as much kindness and compassion for ourselves as we do for those around us. And it’s important to remember that although we might not always get to spend as much time with our kids as we would like, it’s the quality of the time that we spend with them rather than the quantity that matters. Life is so much more enjoyable when we stop giving ourselves a hard time and let go of the worry and guilt, and happier people make far better parents!