The Strength In Parenthood

It’s hard to put into words how terrifying the last week has been for me.

My mind jumps when my stomach starts to turn – to avoid thinking about what could have happened.

My baby Elijah, just seven weeks old and still teeny tiny, was admitted to hospital after a terrifying episode at home where he was not responding to me, had a high temperature and looked so ill that even the thought of it now brings me to tears.

Luckily all is well and the Doctors and Nurses at the children’s hospital did an amazing job of getting him better again.

As I sat by his bedside in the hospital and thought of all the other Mother’s and Father’s here at the same time, going through similar things or worse, it occurred to me what amazing strength we are given the moment we become a parent.

The moment that precious bundle is gifted to us with no guarantee of a smooth ride, we become imbedded with this incredible desire to protect and nurture, gaining strength and confidence with each day that passes.

In fact the more you love, the harder it is to unclench your stomach and release control, in an effort to keep them safe.

So should we be walking around with an encyclopedia in our head of what could happen and worry about all the things that could go wrong?

I don’t think so.

I believe that the more you think about something, the more you attract it to yourself.

Instead of concentrating and worrying on what will happen with Elijah now, in a house containing a hotbed of germs from his two older brothers, I want to concentrate on how happy I am that he is well.

How happy I am that he is feeding.

How happy I am that he is sleeping well.

How happy I am that he can smile at me – the most beautiful thing you will ever see.

Come what may, we will get through it, because as parents we have strength in reserve, we have faith and we have love.

That’s how we can go on.