Mothers Worry Best

In a race for the Triple Crown of Worry, mothers are first out of the gate and last to cross the finish line.

We worry about what our children CAN do. They can play football, skydive and climb mountains.

We worry about what our children CAN’T do. They can’t sleep through the night, sit still in church, swallow a pill or keep their shoes tied.

We worry about what they WILL do. They will take a Band-aid off as soon as they get outside, pick their noses and belch in public.

We worry about what they WON’T do. They won’t go to bed on time, pay attention or “go potty” in designated areas.

We worry about what they SHOULD do. They should eat their vegetables and use soap more often.

We worry about what they SHOULDN’T do. They shouldn’t smoke a first cigarette or cross the street before looking both ways.

We worry about what they MIGHT do. They might lose their retainer or crash into the bushes when learning to ride a bike.

We worry about what they might NOT do. They might not put on clean underwear or pass their spelling test.

We worry about what they DO. They run when they should walk and walk when they should run. They eat too fast and do dishes too slow.

We worry about what they DON’T do. They don’t do their homework, clean their rooms or floss.

Mothers worry best because they never run out of subject matter. So don’t be surprised to hear a great-grandmother calling out to the grandfather of her great-grandchildren, “Son, where’s your coat? It’s 30 degrees out there!”