You’ve done it, I’ve done it, we’ve all done it. Every mom I know has forgotten to pack a special bag-lunch for a field trip, or not realized it was a no-uniform day, or missed a class party, or overlooked some other detail as we try to keep it all straight between our work and family lives.

Every mom I know has also allowed herself to be eaten up by guilt, as she easily convinced herself that she was the only non-super mom on the planet.

The interesting thing about mom-guilt is this: while we are sick to our stomachs for days, lamenting over haunting thoughts of how we have somehow scarred our kids for life, they have already moved on and let it go. By lunchtime, they have forgotten all about the fact that Mom forgot to send in the empty paper towel roll and they had to use one of the “spares” that the teacher preparedly had on-hand.

Of course, they may conveniently remind us of our erred ways every now and then, but one of the most beautiful things about children is that they love us unconditionally. They truly want mommy to be happy.

As moms, we need to realize and be okay with the fact that, with all of the many balls we simultaneously juggle, we may drop one occasionally. It is simply a fact of modern motherhood.

We don’t lay awake at night worrying ourselves sick over other facts of Life. The world is round. The sky is blue. Moms sometimes make mistakes.

Why not just accept that fact? You are an amazing mom and you will make a few mistakes along the way. Period. No self-torment necessary.

Acknowledge your mistakes, learn from them, vow to do things in a way that feels better next time, and move on to loving yourself just as much anyway. Your kids surely do!