Monday, April 04, 2011

Over protective Mom

I have come to realize I am an overprotective mom. I hate having my children out of my sight (execpt with people I trust 100%) If we are in the store and they walk a little too far down the aisle ahead of me I start to panic. I don't like to have them go to friends houses without me. This isn't really a problem yet because Ben's only 5 so it doesn't really happen yet. But I don't see it getting any better when he gets older. I don't like to take walks with them or take them to the park because its really overwhelming for me to keep all three of them within my reach at all times.

Logically I know the chance of someone reaching out and grabbing them is rare but my illogical/emotional brain can't understand that. I am jealous of easy going laid back parents who can let their children run free. I feel like I am doing a disservice to my kids by not letting them have a little more room. I just don't know how to fix this.

I feel pretty safe in our house. I can let them be a little more free. I just wish I knew how to do it outside. Don't get me wrong I have no desire to just let them completely run amok. I don't want my kids to be "those kids" but I would like to trust the outside world a little bit more. To at least be able to take them for walks or to the park without being convinced, if they are more than 6 or 8 feet from me, that someone is going to drive up and kidnap them.

Please tell me I'm not the only mom like this. And if you have any advice I'd LOVE to hear it!

3 comments:

Anne said...

I was always like that when my oldest was little. I still am. He's 13 and wants to hang out with friends and I still think he should want to hang out with me. But I am learning to let go. It does get better!

Tarena said...

I'm not one to give too much advise on how to be more easygoing about this. I barely let Catherine walk home from the bus stop by herself this year and even take the bus. The time will come, but 3 and 5 are a little young. I'm just starting to give Catherine a little more leash and as she shows us how she can handle it, she'll get more. As for trusting the outside world, you've got to be careful. Just a year or two we had an attempted kidnapping in our neighborhood that they tried more than once. It's not the same world we grew up in.

BlessedMommyOfSix said...

I have ALWAYS been that "easy-going laid back mom" you mentioned, but with my twins I feel the SAME WAY you do! I can't let them out of the stoller at the park - I need them strapped in and safe. I can't enjoy any outings because I am constantly worried about them - like is it really possible for me to pay 100% attention to the safety of one of them when there is another one of them going off in another direction?! I know exactly how you feel...if you get any solutions please let me know! ^.^ ~AmyT