Mommy Fearmongering: When Is Enough, Enough?
I’m living in parenting information overload, and quite frankly, I’m exhausted by it all. Can I morph back to the days of no Google and Facebook, when “ignorance is bliss” truly was the norm?
Every little parenting story, tidbit and lesson I hear comes from the best place with the best of intention. People are trying to increase safety, reduce unnecessary incidents of death and increase education. Perfectly understandable.
I’m already a learner and a rule-follower, however, so all these added rules are making me crazy. Soon I won’t even be driving a car. I’ll be walking around wrapped in bubble tape never letting my son touch the ground.
When is enough simply enough?
And as soon as I say that I can tell you a story about…
- The baby who drowned in the bath
- The toddler who drowned in the pool
- The child that was accidentally left in a hot car
- The infant that died of SIDS at daycare
- The infant who died in bed co-sleeping
- The sweet girl who died overnight in her rock-n-play
- The sweet boy that died from sleeping too long in his car seat
Can you imagine how those parents feel? I can’t even. They’d say YES to anything and everything that would help save a child’s life, and rightfully so. I’d be saying the same thing. It only takes one innocent accident to send a wave of fear rippling through the mommy community.
In the same regard, when is it out of our control? I can tell you just as many non-baby tragic stories that have happened to family, friends and other adults I know simply from just living life.
So where’s the line drawn on the latest and greatest $300 gadget that can increase safety the tiniest fraction of a percent?
Am I a terrible mom for feeling like enough is enough?
I played it cool and made it through baby #1, but I’m already stressing about a future #2.
Maybe I do need the breathable mattress. Maybe sleeping in their crib is actually a terrible idea. No more naps in the car seat ever again. And closer monitoring on the Rock n’ Play. No road trips longer than two hours without a break. Maybe I should actually get a video monitor. Family probably shouldn’t even babysit at this point because they definitely won’t follow my rules.
Anyone else feeling the doom and gloom of this fearmongering mommy life? Where’s the line for you?
