The Worry of Everyday
Life is fairly great without children. You live your life. You can go and come back anytime you want. Nothing or no one, virtually is dependent on you. Many details in life are meaningless to you. In fact, when you don’t have children, you’re ignorant to many thoughts and feelings. Children have a unique way of teaching and showing us all of the things we miss by not being parents. When you have children you learn of all the extra things you must worry about.
How insignificant many things in your life are. Then you have children.
Suddenly you become a parent and all you do is worry. Aspects of everyday life you never thought twice about now become things you focus on. You start to question aspects of the child’s life that you’ve never thought of yourself. You question everything! Screen time. The type of food they eat. Bed time. Routine. The words you don’t want them to repeat. If they’re getting enough rest or vitamins. School lockdowns matter to you now. You become overly protective of your kid.
Steve-O known for his work in Jackass has talked about how protective of his kids he is. This is a man that performed stunts for entertainment and often injured himself. But it speaks to something. When you have children it changes how you see the world and your daily life. Children have a certain way of grounding you to life and keeping you rooted in it. Yes, this is not true for all parents. However, for the vast majority, this is the trajectory.
The feeling most parents have all the time is worry. From the moment you bring them home from the hospital it’s worry. Does it end? No. My mother would worry about my brother and I into our 30’s.
The worry if you’re doing a good job or doing enough. The worry if your child will be a good person or not. The worry if you yelled at them and if that is going to ruin them for the rest of their life. When they have their first date. First sporting event. Prom night. A break up. A fight with a friend. You call them and they don’t respond. Worry.
And have you seen the world we live in today?
So how does one combat this? You don’t. It’s both biological and psychological. You embrace it. Worry is what allows parents and guardians to be better. It sucks because you’re always anxious and more than likely thinking too much. That’s because you care. You love them. And that is exactly where you should be. In a state of constant worry.
Thought Provoking Questions : Is your biggest worry real or created in your mind?
Dan Roman is a writer that releases a daily meditation. A quick read. Sharing wisdom and asking thought-provoking questions. Influenced by the obstacles, success and failures in life and of others. Using history, books, current events, philosophy, and ancient wisdom. These writings are actionable, thought-provoking, designed to make your life better.
What are your thoughts on this piece? Comment below…