Anxiety in Parenting

Did you know that Anxiety is the most common mental illness in the United States?  Anxiety is defined as a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.  I am one of 3.6 million Americans that suffer from anxiety.  It is a disorder that consumes women and men alike, and even effects small children. That part in particular is something that is on my mind frequently.  Someone said to me once that anxious parents produce anxious children.  After I started having children I became very anxious.  As soon as I had my first baby I had an overwhelming feeling of responsibility.  Obviously I was responsible for raising this child because I was her mom, but my mind wouldn't stop.  What if my child gets hurt? Or worse, what if someone hurts my child? What if she gets lost or taken from our home at night?  I mean the list of worries just grew with each day and each child.  There is so much outside of my control, but I can control this.  My kids never go to bed without them hearing how much I love them.  They never leave the house without a hug, and we always try to lift them up and raise their confidence.
In 2007, on April 15th at around 9:00 am my brother called me.  I remember my husband was sitting on the couch and answered my phone and hollered that my brother needed to talk to me.  I finished doing what I was doing and quickly brushed out my hair, and then got to the phone.  He quickly informed me in a tear-filled voice that one of my beautiful sisters had passed away in the night.

That I needed to go and get her little boy.  My heart was breaking.  I kept thinking about her easter basket in the trunk of my car that I was going to give to her at our BBQ that night, that I would not see her in this life again, and that her baby boy would not remember her.    With this loss I felt physical pain.  That same year we lost two of our young cousins and and two uncles.  

In 2008, while in Nursing school, I developed an infection and my third little girl was born at 30 weeks gestation.  She was born weighing just above three pounds and requiring immediate CPR.  

 After the longest 30 days of my life (which was an incredibly shorter stay than expected) we took our perfectly healthy baby home.  I went back to school while she was in the NICU and in the middle of one of my classes (while my brother Dayne was in surgery) I had a terrible feeling and stepped out to call my mom.  She informed me that Dayne had coded, he was alive and thats all that she knew.

To save his life they did an emergency tracheostomy.  Dayne recovered at Primary childrens hospital for more than two weeks and was transported to Shriners for further treatment.  The day he was to be discharged home he was given a lethal dose of IV pain medication and rushed back to Primary childrens ICU.  This is one tough dude.  Who wouldn't want to help him right?! 

Well, back to my topic of anxiety...Id say it's safe to say anxiety is a fairly normal response to the life I live.  I found a quote that I keep close to my heart.  "When you realize how perfect life is you will tip your head back and laugh"- Buddha 

It is essential for me to look for the positive things in my life.  My healthy children and the beautiful and loving relationship I have with each of them.  The strength of the relationship and love I have with my husband.  And for all the amazing people in my life.  Including Dayne for his example to carry on no matter what is standing in your way.  

With all that said I am excited to post our newest item up on the blog.

Personalized Nest Necklace 16.00  

 I personalized mine with a "L" for my last name, and three pink beads for my little "squirrels" and a blue for my little monster.  These little people mean everything to me so this is a perfect piece to wear close to my heart.  I adore this piece of jewelry.
-Brittani