Mom's Worry. It's Our Job!

Don’t Worry…Okay, worry a little.

I worry.  A lot.  I can’t help it.  If the older kids are going to get into the car and drive somewhere, I worry.  If we are walking through a parking lot and the little kids aren’t holding my hand, I worry.  The other cars can’t see them and, for the love of God…anything could happen!!!

For many years I panicked outwardly and voiced my concerns anytime I had them.  This caused the people around me to do a few things:

1.  Think I am crazy.

2.  Get so irritated with me that they stopped telling me things

3.  Pick Dad to do the important things like, practice driving, which made me feel, well, just fine!

I came to a realization the other day that I am who I am and that is not going to change.  I will worry because I love you and I am not sorry for that.  I have also realized that I don’t have to involve EVERYONE in my worriedness.  I have learned to mute my worry.  For instance, when I am driving with my daughter and she gets too close to the parked car; I no longer gasp and grab the handle and move my legs as far over to the center of the car as if I am going to avoid being killed by moving over.  I simply say “Peyton” in a calm and irritating voice, as the passenger mirror misses the parked car by an inch.  This simple modification allows me to accomplish a number of things:

1.  I get to release some energy created in my moment of panic.

2.  It allows my girl to check her surroundings (she knows I have modified my panic reactions but am actually still panicking).

3.  I get to feel like I have saved the day and most likely I was the reason we didn’t all just get into an accident.  I still get to be me!

Our oldest son just got back from Mexico from a 10+ month student exchange program.  He was fine.  He was more than fine.  He learned, he laughed, he traveled and was immersed in a new language and culture that he would not have experienced at home.  He survived, and so did I.  I did not think at first that we would. But how would we know unless we tried?

I will never stop worrying. Never.  But I will try to let days pass and have fun and let THEM have fun and remember that I cannot protect my family every minute of every day.  As much as I would like to be there all the time, I have to let go.  Ugh…I can’t believe I just said that.  I have to let go….a little.

Have a wonderful 4th of July!

Sincerely, 


Nikki Lamb

Entrepreneurial Mom from the Heartland; an Introduction

My name is Nikki and I am the mother of eight children.  If you ask my husband how many of them were planned, he would say one.  The joke here is, our one planned baby is a twin (we were only expecting one). We had talked about having our kids, but didn’t plan for them in a traditional sense.  Our eighth child came 13 months after our seventh child and I truly wondered if I would be able to keep up.  Well, I don’t keep up.  I am not always the best, most patient, mild tempered, smiling mother; but I continue to be a good mother.  My kids like me and love me everyday and I continue to be completely enamored with each and everyone of them.  How can it be that my love has never been divided between all of these precious children?  How can it continue to grow?  I don’t have the answer to that question; I just know it is true.  It amazes me everyday. 

  

                                                                              

     

 

I was always one of those women who “just knew” I was supposed to be a mother.  I never thought I would be running, or attempting to run a household with this many children, but it works.  In a non-organized, usually loud, always cooking and cleaning and laundry-washing way, it works.

I have also helped to start and grow three businesses.  I knew from a young age that I didn’t want to answer to a stereotypical boss.  I wanted to work toward something that wouldn’t end at retirement.  In my 20’s and early 30’s I had jobs that required certain attire, punch in by 8 am “or else” mentality.  I know that this is how people live, it just was not for me.  I was not good at it and it did not make me happy.

I look forward to bringing you a weekly blog focusing on all things in the world of mom, but through the lens of someone that wears many hats and plays various roles to make a home and livelihood work on a daily basis. Thank you for this opportunity. 

Sincerely, 

Nikki Lamb.