are you more sensitive since having a baby? - Page 2

[askew]

Yes. I was just talking about this with my moms group friends. My sister (no kids) recommended a book to me where after 500 pages of getting to know the character, the protagonist dies of cancer, slowly, leaving 3 small kids. It destroyed me for a whole weekend, and my sister had no idea what I was so worked up about. I can't watch movies where a mom dies and leaves her family without spinning out. I was never great about the concept of death before, but since kids, it is a hundred times worse.

[Blueone]

Yep! A friend of mine is too and she has 2 kids. It makes me anxious to hear babies just crying with no one responding. I can't watch certain shows anymore either. I'm going back to work in a few months and I work as a therapist for children. I'm not sure how I'm going to do it. I can already see myself hiding my tears.

[justKate]

I DVR-ed the newest Duggar's Baby's Birth and watched the first 1/2 last night. For you non-watchers, the baby was born at like 25 weeks, and is fine (I think). I cried through the whole thing, not because I had a NICU baby (who is also fine), but because of the parents' pain.

I am waaay more emotional now. The animal abuse commercials get me every time, too. Stupid ol' Animal Planet.

ETA: not to get overly philosophical, but for me, having a little human to care for has given a lot of meaning to my life. I think the emotions are tied to that. What happens matters now, you know? Because my daughter is here.

[red and lulu]

Originally Posted by Masel

All the post apocalyptic and world without people stuff that is popular these days is what gets to me.

me too! i just have to spot them on the tv guide and my mind starts spiraling into this dark scary place... even topics like climate change, an issue I've always liked being informed about, seriously stresses me out! I can't stand to think that my daughter's world will fall down around her. I agree so much with the pp: it's because everything matters now, b/c she's here.

I'm SO glad I'm not alone in this.

[Beauchamp]

Originally Posted by kgreenemama

Not that I was insensitive prior to becoming a mom, but other people's kids were just, well, other kinda cute young people. Now, my empathetic emotion, particularly toward other moms and children is profound.

This!

Originally Posted by CJsMama

...even topics like climate change, an issue I've always liked being informed about, seriously stresses me out! I can't stand to think that my daughter's world will fall down around her.

And this!

DH and I watched the movie 'The Mist' a few weeks ago on TV....oh MY I was sooo bothered by that movie, and the crazy thing is that years ago I read the (original) short story and was telling DH how good it was, and how I wanted to see the movie. DD was nursing/asleep next to me as we watched this. The ending disturbed me for weeks.

I guess I'm really protective, too. Everything from pesticides in food, BPA, lead, parabens, physical injury, "bad" people, air travel, car travel, cancer... I think my default setting is "worry", and when I'm not worrying, it's because I'm too busy.

[MsVyky]

Oh my goodness, Yes. I'm a basketcase since becoming a mum.

For example, I'm not sure how far the news of this particular tragedy spread, but when I heard about the news of the woman and her baby in the Toronto Airport, I couldn't sleep for days thinking about it. It haunted me.

[Nillarilla]

Yeah I believe I am more sensitive since becoming a mother. It has really helped me in my line of work as an RN. It's helped me to 'tap into' what my clients are feeling and try to do what's right for them not just what's right for the system. It's helped me to learn to really listen instead of just waiting to speak. It's helped me to empathize with coworkers that I would have just gotten angry with before I had kids. I think in a world where desensitization is the norm this reheightened awareness and sensitivity that comes from having kids is vital.

[busymama77]

I don't think it ever goes away because it's completely normal. I know that since I had my first child, I am more sensitive about a lot of things that I never was before, more aware of my surroundings and the choices that other people make (like my mom's smoking), putting my foot down a lot more and I find myself daydreaming about the awful "what if's".

[NYSwede]

Originally Posted by Ldavis24

Unfortunately I have this feeling a lot when I see people with their babies out in public and they are doing something that I disagree with or the baby is crying etc...Like I am the only mother in the world who could care for a baby the right way This is when I tell myself to chill out and that those kids are just fine.

This!! I am new to "Mothering" and was so happy to seet this thread, I thought I was going a little crazy...I cannot watch the news or read the paper these days. It seems like ther is sooo much terrible stuff going on in this world. And after becoming a mom, I am so super sensitive to all the news stories of babies and children being abused and killed. Makes me cry and unable to sleep. Having thoughts like " right now a little baby or child is being hurt." Sigh.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to feel a little better when these feelings become too much??

Thanks for starting this thread!!

Mom to beautiful dd since 8-17-09

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by busymama77

I don't think it ever goes away because it's completely normal. I know that since I had my first child, I am more sensitive about a lot of things that I never was before, more aware of my surroundings and the choices that other people make (like my mom's smoking), putting my foot down a lot more and I find myself daydreaming about the awful "what if's".

Oh good - I'm not completely nuts then! I also daydream about "what if's" - some of them so horrible I have to go up to my baby, gather her into my arms and just hug her until I believe he's real and alive and okay! I mean some of that is because of what happened with Josie, but I do get these awful thoughts running around in my head sometimes, like "what if she falls off the bed even though she can't roll yet?" and "what if she gets smothered in the night by the burp cloth under her head?" and "what if her heart just...stops?" and "what if she stops thriving?" and "what if she gets sick?" and...and...and...

Oh! I think it might have been good for me to get those things out!

[Kelly1101]

Originally Posted by JayJay

Oh good - I'm not completely nuts then! I also daydream about "what if's" - some of them so horrible I have to go up to my baby, gather her into my arms and just hug her until I believe he's real and alive and okay! I mean some of that is because of what happened with Josie, but I do get these awful thoughts running around in my head sometimes, like "what if she falls off the bed even though she can't roll yet?" and "what if she gets smothered in the night by the burp cloth under her head?" and "what if her heart just...stops?" and "what if she stops thriving?" and "what if she gets sick?" and...and...and...

Oh! I think it might have been good for me to get those things out!

I constantly had those thoughts when mine was a newborn. I actually ended up co-sleeping BECAUSE I was so terrified and couldn't let her out of my sight.

I think being worried is something that doesn't go away once you're a mom, but it's definitely eased off for me as mine has gotten older (nearly 10 months now).

[FrugalGranolaMom]

Originally Posted by JayJay

Oh good - I'm not completely nuts then! I also daydream about "what if's" - some of them so horrible I have to go up to my baby, gather her into my arms and just hug her until I believe he's real and alive and okay! I mean some of that is because of what happened with Josie, but I do get these awful thoughts running around in my head sometimes, like "what if she falls off the bed even though she can't roll yet?" and "what if she gets smothered in the night by the burp cloth under her head?" and "what if her heart just...stops?" and "what if she stops thriving?" and "what if she gets sick?" and...and...and...

Oh! I think it might have been good for me to get those things out!

This is totally me!!! It's awful!

I can't watch the news, anything sad involving children makes me cry immediately. I always think "Oh God! What if that was Dante!" I don't think it will ever go away, my mom is still very sensitive about things like that.

[FrugalGranolaMom]

Originally Posted by Kelly1101

I constantly had those thoughts when mine was a newborn. I actually ended up co-sleeping BECAUSE I was so terrified and couldn't let her out of my sight.

me too!

[EarthMamaToBe]

glad to know I am in good company!