Claudette Betterridge's Page

‘Someone’ once said that your mother knows how much you love her, so you don’t have to tell her. Well, I’m here to tell you that that ‘someone’ obviously isn’t a mother!

There is a theory that suggests that in order to receive that which you desire, you must first give it unconditionally. Well, motherhood is all about giving. We give our time, our energy and occasionally our sanity to our children and often feel as though we receive nothing in return. But in truth, our children are giving back… Continue

If there is something that is making you feel guilty that you know you can do something about, then the best course of action is to stop beating yourself up about it and take steps to act on it. Either do what you know you should have done in the first place, or get some help to ensure that you don't end up in the same situation again (and again and again)!

Those guilty feelings we get from time to time are usually accompanied by physical and physiological changes in our bodies. For me, the recognition that I have stepped over one of my own boundaries starts with a huge sigh, a feeling of weight pressing down on my shoulders and at the same time a sinking feeling that starts in my chest and ends up like a rock in my gut.

I am doing some interesting reading at the moment that shows the connections between our emotional past (events we have experien… Continue

Well, no actually!
From my last few weeks at a frantic pace, I would have to say that unless we are vigilant, Motherguilt will continue to creep into our lives. However, this does not have to mean that we are destined for an emotional breakdown. It is how we react when the pangs of guilt hit that is the important factor in our cause-effect equation. You can consciously choose to see the guilt as it is - a reminder of where your moral/behavioural/lifestyle compass is set and then act on changing… Continue

The process of writing and publishing a book is long and varied (especially with children underfoot) and there are many Mums out there who just may not be able to wait until there is a book full of information to draw solace from. I have had a great response from the Motherguilt Survey, but am waiting for more data before I set out to draw conclusions.

The following are excerpts of 'Guilty Stories' taken from Motherguilt Surveys that I would like to share. Most are short, some are anguished and… Continue