MAMA-BEAR

The role of mama-bear is quite intriguing.  The inner fire when I’m in protective-mode is intense and it’s so easy to leave my comfort zone and fight for my children on things in which, if the tables were turned, I would not have fought for myself.  I didn’t want them trampled upon, I didn’t want them hurt.  I’ve tried so hard to shield them from the unpleasantness that life afforded me.  But I’ve learned recently  that I need to trust that they have become sufficiently strong to handle things on their own.  They have watched and learned from the example of their mother long enough.   It’s time for them to fully practice thriving, amidst good times and bad times.  Life sometimes throws us curve balls at the most inconvenient of times, but they do not devastate us or cripple us.  We may buckle for a moment, let our imaginations of worst-case scenarios take flight for a moment, but then we reign it in, sharpen our perspective, stand up and move forward.  

I didn’t want to tell them of my news until the biopsy was complete -- I didn’t want them to experience the anxiety that’s been racing in my heart.  But if I  made this choice, I realized that I was depriving them of experiences that would only strengthen them.  Experiences that would strengthen their faith, and give them an opportunity to exercise that faith.    I wonder how many times I’ve protected them from events/situations that were vital for their growth.   I think a mama-bear is necessary and can be a pillar of strength and stability -- but I’m also learning that if it’s not balanced it could be a detriment to their progress.