All Moms feel the pressure to be the best Mom ever, especially if you’re comparing yourself to parents on Instagram or the best Mommy bloggers. In reality, nobody is the kind of parent you see on the internet, and everyone has days when parenting is tough. However, there are some tricks you can use to make Mom-life easier on you, so you can be the best parent that you can be. 

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1. Be careful with the media that you consume. There’s no harm in following Mommy influencers on YouTube or Instagram to get ideas, but be careful of the comparison game and Mom-guilt. Remember that you’re seeing an edited part of their lives, not the tantrums, melt-downs, or times they lost their temper. Avoid accounts that make you feel bad, and swap them for ones that are genuinely helpful. For example, if you like to cook together, an Instagram of easy recipes for kids could be great. If you have a child with ADHD, an ADHD parenting podcast could offer you support. 

2. Give your kids fifteen minutes. Every day, make the time to stop everything you’re doing and focus completely on your child. Stop worrying about the laundry and meal planning, and sit down for fifteen minutes to really check in with them. This is their chance to talk to you about any worries they may have and for you to build your connection with each other, with no distractions. 

3. Take care of yourself. You can’t care for anyone else if you aren’t looking after yourself. Many Moms live for their kids, but this isn’t sustainable. Remember that you need care too, whether that’s finding time for a workout class or booking a babysitter so you can have a date night with your husband. 

4. Find experts your trust. Everyone has opinions on parenting, whether they know anything about kids or not. Learn to tune out the noise, and listen only to the experts whose opinion you actually trust. This could be your pediatrician, your child’s teacher, or your own Mom. Who has advice that actually helps you? Forget everyone else. 

5. Talk about the tough stuff. Many parents dodge uncomfortable subjects, but if you can, try to have these conversations so your children know they can discuss anything, come to you for any help they need, and get the support they need. Depending on the age of your kids, this might mean learning to talk about death in the family, money, or even sex. Make sure your kids know they can ask whatever they need to so they can grow up into responsible, well-informed adults. 

6. Create traditions. Traditions are what your children will remember when they’re grown up. A tradition can be anything you like that you can do together, like a family movie night on a Sunday, always buying a new Christmas decoration when you go on vacation, or volunteering together on Thanksgiving. Traditions are a wonderful way to build memories and spend quality time together as a family.