Before you read further, let me set the scene: this picture is after I received a text from my husband to keep an eye on kids while they were in play area and I was busy networking with fellow moms. That whatsapp reminded me that I “was supposed to” get up and check on them once! So I just took a peek from the corner to see if they were okay. And ya, there were okay, thank you.
Trust me, sometimes I actually worry about how little I worry about my kids.
With two bustling eight-year-olds, I still can’t say I overly stress about anything related to them. Even as the times are changing (well hasn’t that been like since forever), and new dangers lurk in ever darker corners—social media! drugs! This! That!— I carry on with what I consider reasonable expectations and reasonable measures (wash your hands! Complete your homework!), keeping my fingers crossed for the best through a fruity cocktail of luck, trust, and pragmatism.
Embracing the Calm: Why I Don’t Overly Worry About My Kids
It occurs to me that if actively and regularly fearing for your children’s safety is a natural instinct, my maternal hardwiring must be faulty! At any rate, I feel disconcertingly out of step with my peers, many of whom seem to exist in a near-continual state of worry about their kids—at every stage of development.
The more I reflect on it, the more convinced I am that my approach is simply a matter of wiring. I do get anxious, I’ve realized that quite acutely over the past few months as new challenges keep cropping up here and there. But just not about my kids. I like to think they sense this calmness. Somehow I believe they thrive because of it and I hope they know my lack of over- protectiveness is not a reflection of how much I love them.
Are you an overly worrying parent?
Do you find yourself constantly worried about your children’s well-being? Or are you, like me, a mom who believes in trusting the process and letting them grow with a bit of freedom? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Go Mommy!