Motherhood Has Made Me Nuts

I have all sorts of fears about the physical safety of my children.  I don't know if these fears are normal or not. Sometimes I suspect they are not.  I used to be scared to death that I would accidentally lock them in the car with my car keys.  I cut their grapes into quarters and wouldn't allow them to have hard candies probably until they were in 2nd grade - maybe 3rd. And baths - I was always afraid they'd drown and never took my eyes off them for a minute. Wouldn't leave the room to answer the door or the phone or anything - even when they were as old as 5 or 6.

Once when my daughter was about 18 months old, my husband and I were with her at a kiddie pool.  It was a big pool - maybe 20 feet across, but shallow.  It came up to her mid-thigh or so.  One of us was on one side, and one of us was on the other, and she was in the middle of the pool.  We were both watching her like hawks, when all of a sudden, she lost her balance and fell forward, face down, in the dead man's float position.  We both thought she'd right herself, but after a second or two, it was apparent that she was not going to, and both of us ran to scoop her up.  She was fine. Our hair was standing on end.

Some of the fears have changed a bit now that they are older, but they are just as gripping.  When I hear a siren, I immediately take inventory of where my sons are to see if they could possibly have been in a car accident. If I actually see a wrecked vehicle, I find it necessary to tell them about it and how bad it was and once again impress upon them that they have to drive safely. Every time they leave the house, I tell them to be careful. 

Writing this post is helping to keep my mind off the fact that my daughter is in the jacuzzi. Once a long time ago, I heard the story of a girl whose hair got sucked into a jacuzzi valve and she was pulled under the water and drowned.  I have told my daughter that story several times.  She knows it by heart.  She wears her hair up whenever she takes a bath.

I keep battling the urge to go in there and check on her. The only thing that stops me is knowing how much she hates it when I do that.

A few minutes later: Just knocked on the door on the pretext of asking her if she's enjoying the bath.  I knew I was interrupting her lovely revery.  She had to turn off he jets in order to hear her annoying mother.  But, I found out that she's still conscious, thank God.   

Comments

[alisa]

It's called being a mom. You'd think it would get better as they aged. Wait till grandchildren. I am always calling my daughter and telling her to make sure she watches over girlchild and boychild because "blah blah blah" can happen. She says, "Mom, are you watching SVU again?" I have to lamely admit I am but they do those shows after real things that have happened. The mom saga continues. And continues. And continues. :-)

[Gail]

Yes, my mother tells me the same thing. I haven't felt it this strongly in a while since my sons know to shield me, and thus save themselves a lot of grief. LOL. Daughter is still at the point of thinking it's "cute" when mom worries. Occasionally she takes it personally, as if I don't trust her, but she's beginning to realize that it's inevitable parental nuttiness that just can't be helped.

[alisa]

When both mine were still at home and we'd leave to go out, they'd start their "act"--Ya'll be careful. It's not your driving we worry about, but others. When you go to parties take a drink from fast food so the lid will always be on it and you can decide if you want something added. It's a hard world out there mom and dad, but if you act responsibly----I mean REALLY. Really!!! You gotta love 'em though. :-)

[Gail]

"When you go to parties take a drink from fast food so the lid will always be on it and you can decide if you want something added."

That's a good one. I will have to remember to add it to my maternal repetoire.