Mommy Talk
A publication of MOMS Club® of Spotsylvania-Central, Virginia
Highlights from the MARCH 2010 Issue
Letter from the President
Dear MOMS, There aren’t many sure things in life.
One definite in raising children, though, is that they learn from everything we do. When we don’t intend to be teaching is probably when they’re paying the most attention.
That’s why my son Nasir, two and a half, sits down at the kitchen table, puts his little hand on his head and says “I’ve got a lot of stuff to do.”
Completely unintentionally, I’ve taught my little bundle of joy who wakes up everyday and says “It’s such a pretty day” to be a total stress basket.
Ok, that’s my neuroses talking. He probably isn’t a total stress basket, yet. But, the little mannerisms he picks up from me are proof that he watches me all the time and picks up not only my actions and words but also my mood and temperament.
Stress comes in many forms and for many reasons. Last month—as we were (once again) buried in snow, almost all our club activities were cancelled and parents struggled to keep children occupied for nearly two straight weeks out of school—stress piled up along with the snow banks.
As March begins and there’s some promise that spring actually plans on arriving, I hope to allow some of my stress to melt away also. Knowing I’m not the only person who has been feeling the pressure, I’d like to share my thoughts on how to make this possible.
We all know the negative effects of stress—we eat too much or too little, drink too much of the wrong thing, sleep too much or too little and don’t take time to realize what good we have going on.
We generally ignore the things that could make us feel better, like exercise and self reflection, and opt for full steam ahead dedication to our stressed out state of mind.
Or, at least I do. I guess I shouldn’t presumptively speak for all of personkind
But, I know plenty like me who have a difficult time taking it easy when circumstances around them get tough.
The solution can’t be eliminating stress, since we are not always in control of those things that cause anxiety. The solution must be coping with stress in ways that do not compound the problem.
As sure as it is that children quietly observe our behavior and (sometimes not so quietly) mimic us, it’s a sure thing that too much stress in our lives carries over onto our children. Realizing how ineffective worrying is at getting anything accomplished, I want to find a way to teach my son to live without this burden.
~Ruth