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I am generally a pretty mild mannered person. I don’t much like confrontation so I do my best to avoid it. However sometimes, out of the blue, you get the hairs on the back on your neck to stand up and that weird feeling rising from the pit of your stomach. Your ire is raised.
This in particular happens when one of my kids gets hurt or disappointed. As a parent and particularly, a mom I don’t think that there is anything worse than seeing disappointment or pain register on one of your kids’ faces. There is some primordial response that rises from the depth of a mother’s very being when that happens. The desire to protect, to fix it, to make it all right and to see that those that caused the hurt or disappointment are punished. It’s strange, because you cannot understand why you are feeling this incredible fierceness, this overwhelming protectiveness. It can turn a mild mannered person into a bit of a crazy woman. Sometimes you know the person or persons who did it and sometimes you don’t — it’s a total stranger. In either event, I think other mothers would agree with me when I say that whoever they are, you can feel like you want to hurt them because they hurt your baby — even if your baby is a teenager and whatever happened was obviously a misunderstanding. Rational thought freezes somewhere in your brain when the mama lioness in you lifts her head to protect her cubs. It’s odd that it happens automatically, without any warning or control.
Amazing how humans really don’t vary much from animals in some contexts. The desire to protect, to shield and to fix it are there in all of us — human or beast.
Happenings on the Hill 
6 comments
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February 18, 2012 at 11:14 am
Patty Hebert
I am one of those moms. My motto: Don’t touch my kids, ever.
February 18, 2012 at 11:58 am
Kathy Beauchain
So true Patty. I am also one of those moms. Don’t hurt my children or you will feel my wrath.
February 18, 2012 at 1:36 pm
kzackuslheureux
I’ve often said my five-foot frame will turn into a full-size mama grizzly bear if anyone messes with my kids!
February 18, 2012 at 5:44 pm
Bob Crosby
Jane wanted to say,”It takes involved parents like you guys to help children get through some of these difficult times as teenagers. You are fortunate your children share these experiences with you, and allow you to talk things out. Sharing the details of a difficult experience with someone to whom you can talk makes a big difference and helps one get through tough times.
February 19, 2012 at 1:19 am
mynameisrobertpaulson
I am 6 foot Grizzly bear, and no body messes with my kids. I usually enjoy seeing the faces of parents when my youngest is there for a sleepover. I tell them if anything happens to my daughter while she is here, i will nail your windows close, and and burn your house to the ground while I watch you claw at the glass. Never had any problems…
My girls know that I will do anything to help them in any situation anything.
February 19, 2012 at 1:34 pm
kirby
Hey Tam – Hope everyone is ok now. I know how you feel. Do anything to me, its ok but don’t hurt my kids! And i fell your kids are an extension of mine so I hope they are ok! BTW miss you!