I had an epiphany the other day as I was stepping on a very small bead – small enough to fit into the most sensitive part of my foot and at the same time, large enough to send a sharp sensation all the way up my leg, through my torso and out my right eyeball. The epiphany is that I either spend time stepping in various unpleasant substances; playdoh, legos, grapes, some items that I will not specify (let’s just say that when we rescued our dog, he was not house trained, contrary to the story we were told,) chocolate chips, barbie’s teeny tiny hairbrush, and so on. Or, I am avoiding “stepping in it” metaphorically.
As a mother I am often avoiding mishaps, mistakes, dangerous situations and bringing up sloppy, unfriendly, unhealthy, unhappy, children. Talk about dodging bullets! I bob and weave with the best of them – Bonnie and Clyde have nothing on me. Are my kids getting their vitamins? Is my daughter fighting with her best friend? Is our new trampoline really safe? Should I let my son drive? Should I let my daughter boogie board? When can they walk to the corner store alone? If my child is sick, when do I take her to the doctor? If I take her too soon, I feel like an anxious mother – if I wait too long, I feel as though I have neglected her.
And with all of this, comes tension and anxiety. You know that phrase “tightly wrapped?” Well, if you’re a mother – you’ve been there. And it’s not only bad for us, but its no fun for our family. I feel my IBS flaring up just talking about this! And I know you’ve heard it all before, but this is one of these issues we just have to keep reminding ourselves about – because it can so easily creep up.
Here are some Coach Me Quick! tips for unwrapping quickly:
1. The next time you are sitting at your desk, uncross your legs, straighten your back and force your shoulders down. Hold for a count of 5.
2. The next time you are worried about something, say what you are worried about out loud. You may have to go into a bathroom or closet to get the privacy you need. But say what you are worried about – out loud. Does it still sound like a viable worry? Sometimes the conversation in our heads, gets pretty ridiculous when spoken aloud.
3. When you are tense and worried, admit it to your family. This defuses the situation, allows them to help you and also mitigates the chances that you will react more strongly than you would like to.
