“Little kids, little worries, big kids, big worries.” Turns out that cliché so true’
Patricia van Liemt is a radio presenter, writer and mother of Maria (13) and Phaedra (10). Every Friday she writes striking, honest, funny and above all recognizable columns about her life and motherhood.
I have an obnoxious habit of thinking every time I hear a siren, it’s my child in the ambulance. And our house is also close to a hospital, so my heart is often out of whack. They say ‘little kids, little problems, big kids, big problems’.
Caught off guard
When I had just gotten older and was completely overwhelmed by the broken nights, I honestly thought this cliché was utter nonsense. i mean, i could drop my baby, she could suffocate, drown…. and so more disaster scenarios haunted my head as a new parent. So it could only get easier. I was sure. Just being able to sleep through the night for one night would be one life changer be where everyone would live.
Bigger every year
If you have small children, this might be a good time to stop reading. Because so it is cliche fucking WHERE! And not just a little bit. With every year that goes by, the danger grows. And not only in the form of breaking something, the inability to breathe or getting into water, but you also have to deal with the internet, addictions, STDs, teenage pregnancy, depression, eating disorders, bullying, violence, alcohol abuse AND SO ON BY MEANS OF!
Also read – ‘I see danger everywhere, my husband laughs everything away’ >
Walk in the park
In that light, those baby years are one walk in the park. Actually quite literally… Well, I think we as parents should certainly be on our guard, but also not let it drive us crazy. Information, education and sometimes a personal life experience from us, the parent, must be sufficient to keep them alive. And to guide them somewhat into their adult lives. I mean, every parent ends up in the emergency room at some point.
“I think we as parents should certainly be on our guard, but also not let ourselves be fooled”
Still, I find it difficult. Mine are (already) 10 and 13 and I still have socket protectors, kitchen cabinet keepers and a stair gate. And smoke and carbon monoxide detectors have recently been added. I mean, you’re playing it safe anyway.
Do I hear a siren in the distance? Oh god… here we go again.
Would you rather listen to Patricia’s column? Which can. Every Sunday between 4 and 6 pm she reads it on Wild FM.
