‘I was home alternating rapidly between ‘totally chill, this is great’ and ‘tell me again why school buses don’t have seatbelts?!’: Mom shares learning to balance parenting anxiety

“I’m not a helicopter parent, or a free range parent, or a snow plow parent.

I think I’m more of a ‘let them go and then panic the whole time’ parent. Is there a name for that?

The kids had their first week of summer camp, at a new place, with new friends, and on a new schedule.

This week they went on their very first bus ride and had their very first field trip.

Meanwhile, I was home in my office alternating rapidly between ‘totally chill, this is great’ and ‘tell me again why school buses don’t have seatbelts!?!?’

It’s all part of growing up though. For them and for me.

They need to experience new things to become the people they will be tomorrow and the next day. I need to let them do it and keep the nerves at bay to be the mother I will be tomorrow and the next day.

No other job I’ve held requires this level of emotional investment and responsibility. No other role has stretched my limits more or taught me more.

I’m grateful for my other roles and know they shape me and will shape my children in other ways.

But the role of mom – the nervous mom, proud mom, chill mom, anxious Googling mom – this is the one that helps me grow the most.

Every day. In lots of ways. We’re all growing up.”

This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Becca Carnahan. You can follow her journey on  Instagram and her website. Submit your own story here and be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.

Read more from Becca here:

‘We live in one of the wealthiest nations in the world, but we’re leaving women behind in mass.’: Working mom advocates for paid maternity leave

‘Dear Moms, I have a secret for you. You can be BOTH.’: Mom shares beauty of balancing multiple roles, embracing multidimensional personality

‘I look at the pile of laundry on the bed, my to-do list, and the emails, and wish I had magic.’: Mom learns to seek out magic in everyday moments

‘It’s confusing, this motherhood business. But it’s beautiful.’: Woman shares changes, new ‘states of being’ after becoming a mother

Do you know someone who could benefit from this story? SHARE  this story on Facebook to let others know a community of support is available.