Do you suffer from mummy envy?

Have you found yourself feeling envious about other mums who you think 'have it all'? You may be suffering from mummy envy! Find out more...

Are there times when you find yourself staring at other mums wondering, "How on earth does she do all that while looking like that?"

They seem to have all the time in the world for manicures, pedicures and hair treatments, when you barely have time to shower and hurriedly slap on some moisturiser before rushing out the door with a crying toddler perched on your hip.

They find time to bake fancy, multi-coloured cupcakes (with sprinkles!) when you just opt for the shop-bought ones.

They go for a jog and end up smelling better than when they started off... and looking like a Victoria’s Secret cover girl through it all, too!

Well, we all probably go through this at one point, and the term for this ‘condition’ is aptly termed ‘mummy envy’!

Needless to say, mummy envy can really get us down and make us feel like we’re not good enough or that we’re not doing a good enough job at being ‘perfect’ at it all.

Of course, this isn't a very 'healthy' way to be/feel, so we've rounded up 7 tips to help you get rid of mummy envy for good!

Just click 'Next' to start reading them!

Don’t make assumptions.

You may see these so-called ‘perfect’ mums for an hour or even just a few minutes a day, so don’t be quick to conclude that they 'have it all'.

Remember that no one should be judged by the way they look and that everyone has their own private struggles.

Count your blessings.

Before you sink into a world of depression thinking about the things you lack, think about the things you have.

For starters: an adoring husband, beautiful and healthy kids, a roof over your heads, food on your table… maybe even a great job!

Keep counting your blessings; there are definitely more!

Use affirmations.

If you tend to feel envious about others who seem to be ‘better’ than you, it is important that you tell yourself that you are an amazing woman and mother.

Sometimes, we are the last to see our own positive traits because we tend to focus on the negative ones.

To help you out, ask those closest to you to write down your best quality.

You may be thrilled to find out that others see you quite differently from how you see yourself.

Compile everyone's comments in a list and keep it in a safe and handy place so you can sneak a peek at it when you need an emotional ‘pick-me-up’.

Change your perspective.

Let's say you see that Barbie doll-like mum with her perfectly behaved kids and you feel that gnawing sense of defeat and envy creeping in.

Turn this negative feeling directed at yourself into a positive feeling and think about what you admire about this mum.

Is it her perfect figure? Or her beautifully done make-up?

Do not compare yourself with her; instead, see what changes you can make, based on your observations.

Ask yourself an important question.

When you feel pangs of jealousy and envy dampen your mood, gently ask yourself, "Why can’t I do that/ be more like that?"

For example, if you feel you don’t do a good job with your make-up before heading out, think about why it is so.

You may have a valid reason — for example, in order to spend half an hour putting on your make-up you may have to skip your breakfast, which you just can’t do.

The important thing is to know your priorities and be at peace with the fact that you're doing the best that you can do.

Of course, if there’s a way to speed up your routine to fit in a quick make-up session, give that a try, too!

Don’t be ashamed to ask for tips.

If you feel envious about a certain mum who seems to manage her time better than you, don’t be ashamed to ask her how she does it.

You never know, she may have wonderful time management tips to share with you.

The same goes for beauty, health and child-rearing tips — mums love to share their advice and experience.

What’s more, they love to hear that they are doing a good job, too!

Be approachable and give advice when needed.

You never know, you could be the mum who is envied.

You could be the mum who has the widest smile and most amount of patience when taming a toddler with a tantrum.

Or maybe you're the mum whose kids always seems to love hugging and kissing and so on and so forth.

We mums always want to be better at what we do and we are constantly looking for ways in which to do that.

So, if another mum comes to you for advice, try to assure them that they are indeed doing a good job and share your tips without passing judgement.

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Written by

Minoli Almeida

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