Dear Sweet Child: I Can’t Help But Worry About You All The Time

“Don’t worry mom, burnt nachos never bothered anyone.

I like the chips crispy.

Don’t worry mom, I don’t really need to wear the shirt that’s still in the laundry pile I gave to you a few days ago.

I don’t really care when my laundry gets done.

Don’t worry mom, my phone has not become a part of my body.

Five hours of screen time is nothing!

But I do worry, sweet child, I can’t help it.

Don’t worry mom, I hydrated enough after the game.

I’m not going to pass out from dehydration.

Don’t worry mom, my assignment will get done even though I waited until the very last minute to start and it’s due in twenty minutes.

Don’t worry mom, the hours upon hours of screen time will not impact my eyesight, and hey if it does, there are some new cool frames I saw.

But I do worry, sweet child, I can’t help it.

Don’t worry mom, I’ll go to bed soon, I promise.

I’m just not as tired as you and I think everything good happens after 1 a.m.

Don’t worry mom, it’s okay for you to forget.

We all forget.

Remember the time you forgot to pick me up at school for the orthodontist appointment?

Don’t worry mom, I got this. I don’t need your help.

I like the way I make my own sandwiches.

But I do worry, sweet child, I can’t help it.

Don’t worry mom, you know I forgive you and love you.

Sometimes we don’t say the right things but we can move on.

Don’t worry mom, I’ll call or text you when I get there.

If I’m a few minutes late don’t worry, it doesn’t mean I got into an accident.

Don’t worry mom, you are perfect in my eyes.

Please don’t ever second guess yourself.

But I do worry, sweet child, I can’t help it…

It’s who I am.

It’s who I will always be.

I’m a mom.

And I’m a mom who worries… I can’t help it.”