When Do You Stop Worrying?

I usually sit here and tell about what's going on in my life from day to day. It's a journal of sorts. I find that I have to be honest and say that I'm sometimes a worry wart. I read a very cute email about just such a person. It went through the different decades of her life...telling about her worries. I thought that I would change it up a bit and put some of my thoughts into it. So, here goes.

In my teens...I worried about grades, would everybody like me, having a date for the dance, and so many other things. I went to my Mom and asked for answers...she said, "Just give it time...it will all work out."

In my twenties after being married for a while, the babies started coming...and with them all new worries. Were they getting enough milk, when do I sleep, will they turn over, when do I sleep, why does he walk this way, when do I sleep, when do they start talking, and when do I sleep, do they ever stop talking? My pediatrician said..."Just give it time...it will all work out."

In my thirties the worries got worse, or so I thought. How are they doing in school, will they have friends, will they make the team, do they eat enough good food, will they outgrow that cowlick, oh dear, could I be pregnant. My husband said to me, "Don't worry so much...it will all work out."

In my forties two were in the military and one still at home. My concerns turned more valid. Would they get through basic training, would they be homesick, when will they come home on leave, going to Korea...oh no. The boy at home was still in school and the usual school worries were with me. My friends said, "It will be fine....just give it time."

In my fifties life was a little less worrisome. They were all on their own and doing well. My worries were less. I thought to myself...all the adviceabout giving it time was working out. Oh, oh...grandchildren...I then started worrying about the grandchildren. Every thing came back  my worries about my little ones. Their parents said, "It will be all right...we'll just give it time."

Then came my early sixties and my husband was ill with cancer. I started really worrying then. How would this affect our kids. They were adults, I knew, but how would they deal with the fact that their Dad was going to die? How would we get along without him? I lay awake at night worrying about him and our children. A little worry about me crept in too. The doctor and my minister said..."Take it a day at a time...everything will work out with time."

After he died I started worrying again. I met Joe and was wanting to get married again. How would the kids react to this, would they like him, how could I move out of their family home, would they come home to see me ever again, what would people say, how would this affect their lives. Joe said to me, "Give it time...it will all work out."

Now here we are today. I have made myself sound like such a worrier. It didn't really affect my life for the worse back then. it often brought me answers to questions about problems Having an occasional sleepless night was good in a way...I tossed and turned and things stirred in my head and I found answers. Now I find that I think it is a concern for others... that is handed down from Mom to Mom. It's a Mom thing. We women are strong and often are the problem solvers in a marriage. I have learned late in life just to hand it to God and he will do my worrying.....but on this weekend of Hurricane Sandy...I find myself crawling back into that old worrying habit. I worry for my daughter, who just got to her home in Wi only to have to turn around and go back to DC,where she has a job and home. She is flying out this afternoon and will land this evening. What she will find there, is anybody's guess. Will this be the big storm that everyone is predicting...will she be OK? We talked this morning and she said, "It will be fine Mom." Now where have I heard that before?
Balisha

An update...Her flight was canceled. Now I'm worried about her cat and house.