You hit the nail on the head!

There is no way you can make your kids happy all the time–as you say, that’s neither realistic nor is it good for them. Life can be hard and kids need to grow up with coping skills.

What I felt that day was not so much a sense of responsibility as a sense of empathy. It’s one thing if your child is miserable because he/she can’t get something they want, it’s another thing if it’s because they’re having trouble with friends or in school. While moms aren’t responsible for creating harmony all the time, they sure feel down when their kids are having a tough time emotionally. I know I do.

One interesting thing: in all our focus groups, almost every single woman we spoke with felt guilt about their mothering. It may be foolish or a waste of time to feel that way, but it seems to have become an inevitable part of modern motherhood.