Tuesday
Oct072008
Worry Wart
Tuesday, October 7, 2008 at 04:59PM
Sometimes you hear a bit of parenting advice that really resonates – from an unexpected source. In my case, it was Adam Carolla's morning radio show on 97.1 FM. I often tune in as an antidote to Jack's nonstop barrage of morning-commute questions: Mom, can I take my Darth Vader mask to school? Why not? Then can I take my light saber? Why not? Is Darth Vader a bad guy? Why? Did he get his eye poked out?
And that's B.C.: Before Coffee.
So once I've dropped him off at preschool and the car is quiet, I like to listen, passively, to something that doesn't require a coherent response. Sometimes it's NPR, sometimes it's music or a CD. But very often, it's the rants and fun guests on Adam Carolla (you can often hear L.A. Parent's Handy Dad, Eric Stromer, dispense his home-improvement wisdom on the show, too).
Last week, I had tuned in just long enough for Adam to offer this gem: One of the best things you can do as a parent is to NOT turn your child into a worrier by worrying too much. I am a worrier and the daughter of a hardcore worrier. My sisters are worriers. Together, we produce enough worry to power a worry factory with worry left over for nonworriers. Jack has a knot on his neck? It's got to be lymphoma. Kate fell on her scooter? I'm sure it's a broken arm. Steve's late getting home from work? He was, I'm sure, in a fiery crash on the 101.
And it dawned on me as I listened to Adam's rant. My mom taught me many wonderful things: Don't lie. Be gracious even if you don't like the gift. You don't need a man except to gas up the car. But she also taught me to worry.
So I'm going to try to break the cycle. But I'm worried that it's not going to be easy.
And that's B.C.: Before Coffee.
So once I've dropped him off at preschool and the car is quiet, I like to listen, passively, to something that doesn't require a coherent response. Sometimes it's NPR, sometimes it's music or a CD. But very often, it's the rants and fun guests on Adam Carolla (you can often hear L.A. Parent's Handy Dad, Eric Stromer, dispense his home-improvement wisdom on the show, too).
Last week, I had tuned in just long enough for Adam to offer this gem: One of the best things you can do as a parent is to NOT turn your child into a worrier by worrying too much. I am a worrier and the daughter of a hardcore worrier. My sisters are worriers. Together, we produce enough worry to power a worry factory with worry left over for nonworriers. Jack has a knot on his neck? It's got to be lymphoma. Kate fell on her scooter? I'm sure it's a broken arm. Steve's late getting home from work? He was, I'm sure, in a fiery crash on the 101.
And it dawned on me as I listened to Adam's rant. My mom taught me many wonderful things: Don't lie. Be gracious even if you don't like the gift. You don't need a man except to gas up the car. But she also taught me to worry.
So I'm going to try to break the cycle. But I'm worried that it's not going to be easy.
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