Oracle Mom

I think most moms have experienced moments where they notice that something is not quite right with their child’s emotions or actions. Something is off. 

You take them to the doctor, for instance, knowing they have an ear infection. The doctor is skeptical because there is no fever. But you know. You suspect strep throat also without a fever. You know your child.

As teens they may become solemn or withdrawn. They will say everything is okay but you know there’s been a rift among friends or some event to cause anxiety. They don’t always like to talk about it. Reading your child’s body language and noticing different habits becomes critical.

Sometimes we forget how much anxiety a young person can experience. I remember having a feeling that I should go to my high schooler’s teacher conference…..a time when most parents have handed the torch off to the parents of younger students. When I attended that high school teacher conference I gathered information that helped me to guide better. I had no idea a writing assignment could cause such anxiety. An insight to an insight and all based on a feeling. 

My mom used to tell me that she had  eyes in the back of her head. But  I think she described this intuition of something is wrong with my child.

Those feelings still exist with our adult children. It may be too long between phone calls or their unwillingness to share what’s going on in their lives.  And our role is different. Often they just want a listener, someone to help carry that albatross until they figure out how to release it.

An Oracle mom can’t always solve a problem but she can see one in the making. And just like kissing her small child’s boo boo, she can offer support and encouragement to help weather the storm .