Well, for me, parenting is a bit like driving a car, and my love for my kids is the clutch, and my anxiety is the handbrake. And I am constantly needing to find that sweet spot between the two in order to drive smoothly and not roll down the hill.
Too much anxiety paralyzes me. I worry endlessly about my kids, I fantasize about worse case scenarios and I don't want to let my children out of my sight. If I wasn't constantly mindful, I could be consumed by anxiety. I can feel that person in the back of my mind, that crazy anxious parent who sees danger in every corner and awaits the day some terrible tragedy will occur.
But I won't be that person. I made that decision when my kids were born that I would not cripple them with my anxiety, and I haven't. I will not allow the dark thoughts to enter. I push them away and allow my kids to take risks. I send them down the road and let them play in the park and allow them to climb tall trees and encourage them to be independent.
I will not be that anxious person, not for their sake, and not for mine.
And yet... and yet... the anxiety is there. I won't allow it full expression, but it is there. And so I use it, I channel it, I hone it and I finely tune it so that it serves me and my children well. I access it when I need to. I allow myself moments of dread. I allow myself to think of what might be, just for a few seconds. Just enough. I release the brake, just a little bit.
I find the sweet spot. I find that sweet spot where I am not paralyzed by anxiety, but feel enough vulnerability to appreciate in every single part of me how lucky I am that my kids are okay. I find that sweet spot where I feel that surge of pure love, still so strong even after nearly 16 years of parenting. I find that sweet spot where I can stand over my sleeping child and feel overwhelmed with love and gratitude. Because anything could happen, and it hasn't. They are here.
The brake and the clutch. The anxiety and the love. I'm moving forwards. My hill starts are smooth.
This is lovely, Kerri... Just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Kerri, just beautiful...
ReplyDeleteYep. Yep. Oh, and yep. Nailed it again Ms Sackville x
ReplyDeleteThank you honey!!!
ReplyDeleteThe hidden cameras, babe. OBV xxx
ReplyDelete*clinks glass* xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Carol! x
ReplyDeleteAw... thanks JJ x
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post...oh, how I relate. Unfortunately despite my determination not to project my fears on my children, it seems one of mine has inherited the anxiety gene. We have to work together on that finding that sweet spot while we watch the more carefree sibling scale the nearest tree... xo
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. I think I can relate.
ReplyDeletePS I think you're totally doing it right. Take it from me - trust me, I've seen what happens when you don't find the sweet spot xo
Terrific article. I am not inherently an anxious person, but even I fret about my boys. Car accidents, brawls outside nightclubs etc.etc. One of my best friends models non-anxiety to her anxious 19 year old daughter, even encouraging her to travel around South America by herself last year. Outwardly my friend was calm; privately she was terrified! Daughter is now back safe and sound, after the experience of a lifetime. So much better than a life half-lived because of fear.
ReplyDeleteGreat piece and something I think about a lot. This is the really tricky part about parenting with anxiety and although I allowed my kids to do all the daredevil stuff and patted myself on the back for it, I unknowingly disempowered them in other ways, creating anxiety within them and causing them to be disrespectful to me. It is a fine line and I am learning now that liberating and empowering them is good for them as well as for you.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully said Kerri :)
ReplyDeleteKerri, as long as you can write stufff like this, you're in good shape. X
ReplyDeleteToo many fs on my keyboard !
ReplyDeleteEvery. Single. Moment. Of. Every. Single. Day. *sigh*
ReplyDelete