Once upon a time, I was a fearless soul, breezing through life without a care in the world. Danger? Pffft! Mortality? Never heard of it! I laughed in the face of fear. Fear? Who needs it?
But then, something unexpected happened… I became a parent.
That’s when The Dread kicked in, with the heavy realization that I was now responsible for the well-being of another human being—forever. There’s a saying that goes something like, “When you have a child, your heart starts walking around outside your body.” Outside my body? It’s like being trapped in the worst horror flick imaginable, and let me tell you, it’s terrifying!
In those early days, The Dread was all-consuming. I was convinced that I could harm my baby just by holding him too tightly, misplacing a diaper, or accidentally serving him spaghetti. And don’t get me started on my postpartum body—yikes!
As my kids grew, The Dread didn’t just vanish; it evolved alongside them, revealing new and unexpected fears. Every milestone brought a fresh wave of anxiety—what if I’m doing it all wrong? What if I’m ruining their future? And let’s not forget the ever-present threat of lice!
I used to worry about sleepless nights, and now I find myself waking them up just to check if they’re still breathing. I take them to see fireworks for the sake of joy-filled memories, but spend the entire night fretting that a rogue rocket will fly straight at them. A family trip to the beach? Pure nightmare fuel thanks to the ever-looming possibility of drowning. The activities I once relished have turned into sources of dread.
And just when I think I’ve got The Dread under control, it comes roaring back with a vengeance, bigger and scarier than ever, and with a twisted sense of humor.
I now fear things I once loved, like roller coasters and flying. Homework? Total nightmare! I avoid furniture with sharp edges like it’s the plague. News? Forget it! I can’t bear the thought of it affecting my children, even if the story is something as innocent as “Kitten Stuck in a Tree.”
Tantrums? They terrify me. I worry about everything: illnesses, hangovers, death, being seen in the nude, bullying, strangers, the teenage years… the list goes on! It’s almost laughable because, as a parent, I strive to create a safe and fear-free environment for my kids. Yet, ironically, I’m the biggest scaredy-cat of them all.
This article was originally published on Dec. 3, 2012. For more on parenting and the challenges we face, check out one of our other blog posts about the intricacies of artificial insemination. If you’re looking for more resources, this link provides excellent information on home insemination kits. You can also explore this Wikipedia page for a comprehensive overview of artificial insemination.
In summary, parenting is a ride filled with unexpected fears and challenges, transforming once-joyful moments into sources of anxiety. And while we may try to shield our children from fear, we often find ourselves grappling with it more than they do.