When Everyone Else Seems to Be Doing a Better Job Than You
If you've ever scrolled through Instagram during nap time and felt your heart sink, this one's for you.
When everyone else seems to be doing a better job than you
You're nap-trapped. You can't get anything done. So you scroll.
You see other mums who seem to be managing it all — tidy homes, happy children, time for baking, walks, crafts, and smiles.
And quietly, a thought creeps in: I'm not enough.
Pause.
The way we talk to ourselves matters more than we realise.
We are often our own harshest critics. We judge ourselves far more severely than we would ever judge a friend. Where we would offer them encouragement and understanding, we turn inward with criticism and doubt.
We compare our lived reality to a highlight reel.
We measure ourselves against standards that were never real to begin with.
And slowly, the picture we once held of how lovely parenthood would be can turn into endless hours of believing we will never be the mum we hoped to be.
This is where compassion needs to step in.
It's time to change the words we use with ourselves — from criticism to understanding, from pressure to encouragement.
Remind yourself:
I am enough.
Holding my child builds their confidence and sense of safety.
I am exactly the right mum for my child. I am unique — no one else parents the way I do.
Social media is not a true reflection of real life.
Comparison will always leave me feeling less than or more than someone else, instead of allowing me to simply be me.
I can accept each day with all of its imperfections.
What I achieve in a day is not a measure of my worth.
You are not behind. You are parenting.
What to Do When Comparison Hits
When you catch yourself in the comparison trap, try this:
1. Name it Say out loud (or in your head): "I'm comparing myself right now. That's normal, but it's not helpful."
2. Close the app Literally. Put the phone down. Look at your actual life, not someone else's curated version.
3. List three things you did today Fed your child. Kept them safe. Showed up. That's enough.
4. Text a mum friend Share how you're feeling. Chances are, she's felt it too.
5. Remember: They're struggling too Even the mums who look like they have it together are dealing with their own challenges. Social media shows the highlight reel, not the reality.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Motherhood is hard enough without the added weight of comparison.
You were never meant to be like anyone else.
You were meant to be you — imperfect, messy, trying your best, and exactly the mum your child needs.
Need support with sleep or routines?
If you're struggling with night wakings, bedtime battles, or exhaustion that makes everything feel harder, I can help.
I work with mums to create realistic, gentle sleep plans that actually fit your family — not someone else's.
DM me on Instagram @confident sleep WhatsApp me here
Join my WhatsApp channel for weekly support: WhatsApp Support
Related Posts:
When Sleepless Nights Feel Endless
When Your Day Doesn't Go as Planned
You've Got What It Takes
ABOUT CHRISTINA
I'm a mum of five, infant sleep coach, and founder of Confident Sleep and Tots Play leader. I help exhausted parents find rest and confidence — without the guilt or pressure.
This excerpt is from my upcoming book for mums, a journal-style guide full of honest, gentle support for the hard days.
SHARE THIS POST: