There was a time when I could say that my biggest fear was public speaking. Accepting a position which requires you to train others enables you to get over that fear. So, that’s what I did. When I started, my palms would be sweaty and whoa! did I ever get a dry mouth. So silly considering that I was the “expert” and knew what I was talking about.
After a lot of practice – and great feedback from the attendees – I got over my fear and improved my public speaking skills. I suppose when you know the subject matter like the back of your hand, it is easy to improve.
Your focus changes when you become a parent. What’s important, what to worry about, what to be fearful of. Everything changes.
Now that I am a parent, my biggest fear is losing my son. I try not to think about it, but sometimes the thought creeps into my head. Particularly after reading about parents who are now childless. I don’t know how you would recover from something so devastating. I am nearly paralyzed with fear thinking about it.
We do so much to protect our children. We teach them to look both ways before crossing the street. We buckle them into safety seats as if they were NASCAR drivers. We cut their food into small pieces to avoid choking. But some things, we cannot protect them from. Things like disease, tragic accidents, and heinous crimes.
How awful it must be to walk into your child’s room and know they’ll never play with their favorite toys or read their favorite books again. What do you do with all of the keepsakes you’ve been saving for when they get older? I wonder how childless parents find the strength to go on.
I’m not sure that I could.
Please be sure to join me at the 31 Day Blog Challenge – March Edition hosted by Fabulous Finds by Tiffany. Be sure to swing by her page and read her post and all the others that have joined in the fun! You can catch up on my other posts by clicking on the links below. I’ve missed a few, I know. Hoping to catch up soon!:
Day 1 – 5 Things You May Not Know About Me – and a self portrait!
Day 2 – My Favorite Quotes
Day 3 – Things that make me happy
Day 4 – Favorite Childhood Memory
Day 5 – Movies to watch more than once
Day 6 – Sharing my Random Act of Kindness and a surprise giveaway!
Day 7 – My dream job
Day 8 – I shared three of my pet peeves
Day 9 – I’ve added a few things to my bucket list
Day 10 – What is your daily routine? – Sadly, I haven’t written this post yet. I will catch up!
Day 11 – The Last Book I Read – I read a lot of books; many are shared here, too!
Day 12 – Some things that I miss
Day 13 – Regret
Day 14 – What’s on my iPod
Day 15 – 10 Things that make me awesome
Day 16 – Motherhood, My Biggest Accomplishment
Day 17 – Why and when did I start blogging
Day 18 – Where are you happiest
Day 19 – 5 Blogs I read regularly
Day 20 – Things I collect
Yours is my true fear that I couldn’t bring myself to write about. I have two sons. They are … Everything.
Sometimes, I have to dig deep and put it out there. I can’t even imagine life without my son. I try not to let my mind go there.
I lost my 25 year old son Jan 2, 2011 due to war related PTSD. Even though my heart will always be shattered at the loss, I can look back and remember all of the memories that we made. I have always tried to make the best memories with my kids, even if it was just pulling out all of our pillows and blankets on the weekend and having movie night together. We made everything fun and an adventure and he knew that he was always loved even when I didn’t like the way he was acting. That’s what keeps me going when I don’t think I can take another step in life. Yes, I hate that the fact that his friends are getting married and having kids and I’ll never have that with him, but I had the best time with him and I have no regrets that I pushed him aside in favor of my work or something else. Live your life as if everyday is an adventure, turn the tv off and read to them, take a walk and discover new things together, but most important….make a happy memory everyday if you can and that will hold you until you see them again!
Thank you so much for your kind words, Sue. I am so sorry for your loss and appreciate your family’s service to our country. I will think of your son this summer when we gather to honor the memory of Nicholas Xiahros, a local Marine who was killed in Afghanistan in July of 2009. You can read more about it in .
I totally understand your fear. I think as parents we all feel that fear often.
Public speaking used to be a big fear, too, but I’ve gotten over it. Now, I have this crazy fear of fire. Dying in a fire. Scares me more than anything.
You are so right, Emily – everything totally changes when you have a child. That is definitely my worst fear too.
My outlook on everything has changed. It is amazing how much children change you.
I am so with you – just chase these thoughts away and pretend that I am in a happy place.
Thank you! Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one that thinks that way!
My current fear would be public speaking.. Not a fan at all. I guess I could do it if I had to but I avoid it. Thanks for the post.