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Opinion

This is the #1 source of mom guilt

You might be surprised by what moms feel most guilty about.

This is the #1 source of mom guilt

Photo: iStockphoto

Our friends at Chatelaine just did a massive survey of 1,000 Canadian women between the ages of 35 and 45. They asked them a ton of questions, but the one we were most interested in was the top source of mom guilt. Can you guess what it is?

Not spending enough time with your kids?

Missing their school play because you had to work?

Not being a fun enough parent?

Nope, nope and nope! The top source of mom guilt is screen time.

Half of women feel guilty about the amount of screen time their kids are getting. Whether or not this is your top source of mom guilt, I'm sure you've worried about how much time your kid spends watching PAW Patrol or felt shamed for letting your kid play with your phone while at a restaurant. But with the evolving world of technology and digital gadgets, it's nearly impossible not to let your kid have some screen time.

The good news is it's time to stop feeling so guilty because in October 2016, The American Academy of Pediatrics released a new set of recommendations for family screen time that acknowledges how technology is inevitable in the home—so you don't have to burn all your gadgets. The amount of screen time varies depending on the age of your child, but the AAP recommends that whatever your kids are doing on the phone or TV, you should be doing it right along with them. Why? Because parents can help their kids "understand what they’re seeing and how to integrate that into their real-world experience." So you really don't have to feel too bad about your kid's screen time. But you do have to watch PAW Patrol with them. Sorry!

Screen time was only one of many things women felt mom guilt over. Twenty-five percent of moms are ashamed of their children's fast food intake. The struggle is real when it comes to getting a homemade dinner on the table! We totally "cheat" sometimes and use these healthy packaged foods that make getting supper on the table a total breeze. The survey also says that a quarter of of moms think they let their kids eat too much sugar. Yep, we feel that one too. Have you read about this family who gave up sugar?
Check out the other top culprits of mom guilt. Photo: Courtesy of Chatelaine Photo: Courtesy of Chatelaine What do you feel the most guilty about as a parent?
Read more: Is using a tablet to keep your kid occupied lazy parenting? The debate: Screen time for kids in cars
This article was originally published on Jan 10, 2017

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