One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
So I was awake last night thinking. Actually, I was asleep and then I woke up; and since everyone else was sleeping, I just laid in bed with my eyes open, my ears alert, and my mind running a marathon. I thought I would let you wonderful blogger friends hitchhike a ride inside my tilt-o-whirl mind. These were just a few of the thoughts I had last night that I could remember today.
I’ve decided I’m not ok. Not even remotely. Too many things are not ok for me to be ok. Are our minds more fragile than they were a century ago or are we just more aware of our imperfections? Are we completely spoiled and therefore break more easily? What were people like when they went into battle before we had guns, airplanes, or bombs? Did PTSD exist when men had to kill other men with their bare hands to survive? Could I kill someone with my bare hands? I don’t think so because I can barely step on an ant without throwing up a prayer for little red devils.
I might be more likely to kill someone if they were about to hurt someone else, especially my daughter. What was I thinking getting pregnant and having a child? She is the best thing about my life but what if I am not raising her right. What if she can’t take care of herself, or handle money, or marries the wrong guy? What if I am doing something tragically wrong but I won’t know until it is too late to fix it? What if someone hurts her?
Some guy chased down a man that took his little girl into a wooded area and was about to rape her. I think he killed him. Good. I have PTSD hearing those stories. Just the thought of something happening to my own child makes my heart speed up and induces angry fear and I have no doubt homicide would be the result. I am definitely a momma bear and all reason or logic disappears when someone is in danger.
I have to check on my daughter, to make sure she is ok. She is beautiful and safe at the moment and that calms me. I want to always keep her safe. I wish I didn’t have to work because I would stay with her 24/7. But, she would grow up and I would forget how to live without her. I can’t think about that now. I was dreaming when I woke up…what was I dreaming? Hmmmm I was dreaming something bad but I don’t remember. I have to pee. “Where are you going”, hubby murmurs as I walk by his side of the bed. “Jeez hun it’s late” he mumbles as he snores before I can answer. I feel sick. Oh that reminds me of my dream…ugh it was awful.
I dreamed my daughter’s nanny called to tell me my daughter’s arm had been accidentally cut off. I woke up because I can’t handle dreams like that. What would I do if that really happened? Would I drive her or recommend someone else drive because an ambulance would take too long? What if the nanny didn’t know where the entrance to the emergency room was and had to search for it? I should lay here and figure it out in case it really happens. But I can’t because I am crying and getting myself worked up over something that isn’t likely to happen. Right? Right???
How did people deal before we had medicine, doctors, hospitals, or cures? Was dying and death different in those days? Did they live fuller lives because death was around every corner? Or is everything relative? I just can’t even imagine being the first person to cut open a dead body to try to figure out how we work. I think we are all different kinds of mentally ill nowadays. I think our minds have been tampered with. We are the victims of a large scale experiment with fake-sweeteners. I hate my addiction to sugar. Potatoes are evil…evil little roots out to destroy us all. I have the thighs to prove it. I need plastic surgery. I want to be Mrs. Potato head with interchangeable parts.
I wonder if my husband would like that. Here honey let me put on my small boobs to go out for sushi. Dang, I have been married so long I think he has forgotten I even have parts. Sigh…
The rest was a bit R rated so we shall end it here. And yes my mind is a sometimes a morbid place and I hate it.
HASTYWORDS 
Oh.My.Goodness. I thought I was the only one who thought the worst and just when I let my guard down, the thing I never expected happened!! My son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, we started insulin shots, everything is going fine,BAM, Halloween comes, we go to the same events we always have, do the same things we have always done, he goes down an inflatable slide and breaks his leg! Not in 1 spot but 2!! One near the knee, one near the ankle!! That roller coaster I did not sign up for!! We got through it and now I hold my breath more than I should!!
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I would feel the same about my daughter. Exceptionally written! Loved it.😊
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Ah my lovely, you worry so. But worrying will not add one iota of safety to your daughter’s world. You already protect her and love her and care for her SO, SO WELL! The photos I see of her, she is absolutely happy, and best of all, she knows you love her through and through and forever.
But she needs to make mistakes. She needs the opportunity to take risks and get it wrong. She needs to be exposed (gently) to all kinds of people so that she can begin to make her mind up about which ones she wants to spend her time and energy on. She needs to know that she can roam free without the worry that she’s causing you such anxiety. She needs to have you as her safe, secure base, from which she will grow and flourish and burst more and more into the glorious person she is, as she grows up.
I know that you know this. And I know that I have no right to say these things, but I believe them, and I know that you working yourself up into a frenzy of upset over her, will achieve nothing except make you miserable.
Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow has enough worries of it’s own. Enjoy her as she is NOW. She is more beautiful than the lilies of the field and more precious than the sparrows, and she has everything she needs because she has you.
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She is but a fledgeling. She will need you for a long while yet, and then there might be a time when she doesn’t, but the strength of your relationship is such that I am SURE that if she has any rebellions, she’ll get over them and come back to you, not just as your daughter, but as your friend and equal.
Of COURSE you worry. You’re a mom. All the way through. But when that worry becomes destructive and that anxiety begins to cripple you, that’s the point to give yourself a gentle shake and realign your perspectives, if you can.
Good for you for striving to be better, and for taking steps to make it happen. You. Are. Wonderful. and I adore you for all manner of reasons but today because you’re trying so very hard to be a great mom. 🙂
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I think this is somewhat normal for women. My wife’s mind does not shut off, EVER and it drives her batty at times. Me, being a veteran husband and father of three young men, I can turn it off completely in seconds. BAM, asleep. Yep, it ticks her off too. Sorry ladies. It’s nature. LOVE the post and it’s presentation. One that both men and women can relate to. 🙂
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I too, had dreams like this when my children were young. While I still have them occasionally now, they are much less frequent. I hope your worrying lessens so you can get better sleep. Your daughter is lucky to have a mother who cares so much.
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I felt that way as a young mother, too. Try to re-focus on something else when that happens. Watch a funny video. Play your favorite song. And, be empowered at all times. This is one of my teachers below (Teal Swan). Another great blogger. PS She survived a very rough childhood and says we all have PTSD to some degree.
I guess life just DOES THAT to you lol!
http://blog.thespiritualcatalyst.com/
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Hasty,
You already do more than enough by having the discussions you have with her on a nightly basis. Sadly, you can’t protect her from everything. Things will happen, but the wonderful job you’re doing in raising her will prepare her for how to deal with those things, and she will handle them well.
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That was a lot to wrap my head around…
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