When Mom Guilt Hits

When Mom Guilt Hits: Finding One-on-One Time With Kids ❤️

Ever feel like a crappy mom? Yep, me too. 🙋‍♀️

It sneaks up on me more often than I’d like to admit. Take last night for example. I was excited because my oldest—my only girl—actually wanted to hang out. At her age, she’s usually at a friend’s house or tucked away in her room, so when she agreed to watch a show with me while I worked on homeschool prep, I was over the moon. I even let her pick something I knew she’d enjoy.

Then… in comes my youngest. “Mom, can I watch something with you after this?” Without even checking the clock, I said, “Of course, buddy!”

Halfway through the show, I realized it was bedtime. Cue the meltdown brewing. 😩 To keep the peace, I told him we’d watch something in my room instead. But surprise—my husband was already watching his show in there. Back to problem-solving. We ended up snuggled up in my son’s room watching his show, which worked out, but man… talk about a roller coaster.

And that’s when the guilt sets in. 💔 Because with three kids, it’s hard to balance giving each of them the time they crave—and the time they deserve. Between sports, work, school, and life in general, sometimes it feels impossible.

But here’s the thing: none of us are perfect. We’re human. And while I don’t have it all figured out, I’ve been brainstorming a few ways to make one-on-one time a little more doable:

💡 Ideas for One-on-One Time With Multiple Kids

1. Micro-Moments Count
   One-on-one time doesn’t have to mean hours of undivided attention. Ten minutes of playing a game, chatting in the car, or sneaking in a bedtime snuggle goes a long way.

2. Kid “Dates”
   Once a month, schedule a short outing with each child—ice cream, a walk, even running errands together. The key is making it their time. This one we actually do, but not as often as I would like - it is by far their favorite thing to do, who am I kidding, I love this just as much as them!

3. Rotate Bedtime Chats
   If evenings are chaotic, try staggering 5–10 minutes of “pillow talk” with each kid before bed. They love having a safe space to share what’s on their heart.

4. Combine Interests
   If one kid loves baking and another loves art, rotate who gets to pick the activity while still inviting the others to join. Over time, everyone gets their moment in the spotlight.

5. Tag Team With Your Partner
   Mom doesn’t have to do it all. Sometimes Dad can step in for one-on-one time while you take another child, splitting the load and doubling the connection.

6. Plan Ahead (Even Just a Little)
   Life is busy, but putting even one intentional time on the calendar—like “Saturday morning coffee and pancakes with [child’s name]”—makes it feel special and less likely to get lost in the shuffle.

And let’s not forget: self-care matters too. 💕 We can’t pour into our kids if we’re running on empty. Even a few minutes to reset, breathe, or enjoy something for you makes you a better, calmer, more present parent.

At the end of the day, we won’t always get it right—and that’s okay. What matters most is that our kids know they’re loved, even in the messy, imperfect moments. ❤️