What Is Parental Guilt?

Parental guilt is the feeling of not being good enough or doing enough for your child. It can apply to parents, carers, or anybody who has that high level of responsibility for a child or a young person.Here are some of the common signs of parental guilt:

What Are The Causes Of Parental Guilt?

High Expectations

Parents and carers often have an idealised vision of themselves as caregivers, and when they fall short of these expectations, they feel guilty.

Comparison With Others

Social media and other forms of media can create unrealistic portrayals of parenting, making parents feel inadequate when they compare themselves to others.

Balancing Work And Family

Many parents struggle to juggle work responsibilities with childcare, leading to guilt over not spending enough time with their children.

Children's Behaviour

When children misbehave or struggle with challenges, parents may blame themselves for not raising them properly. They may further blame themselves for not knowing what to do with these challenges.

Past Mistakes

Parents may feel guilty about past parenting decisions or actions, even if they were made with good intentions. It's not your fault.

What's The Answer?

Are There Other Resources Where I Can Find Out More?

This will largely depend on where you live.

Your first port of call might be your local Health Visiting (child is not school age) or School Nursing (child is school age) Services, depending on your child's age. You could walk into your local Family Centre, or your GP might be able to give you further advice on what is available locally to you.