Momxiety

mom-x-i-e-ty [mom-zahy-i-tee]
noun, plural -ties

1. distress or uneasiness caused by fear relating to anything to do with one's children or the act of child-rearing. Characterized by a knot in one's stomach and irrational thoughts including but not limited to visualizations of worst-case-scenarios.

I came up with this portmanteau when I was facebooking the other day. Figured I better have something more substantial to prove my coinership (ooooh- there's another one!)

Now that we have the definition out of the way, here are the things that cause me momxiety:

1. Not being home for nap time.
2. Breastfeeding in public when I am alone.
3. My child waking prematurely from a nap.
4. Accidentally parenting my daughter into a vapid stereotype of a female.
5. Accidentally parenting my son into an apathetic stereotype of a male.
6. My child running too fast on concrete.
7. My child being rejected by other children.
8. My child being mean to other children.

I keep most of these momxieties to myself and do my best not to act on them (except for #4 & 5 which I do my best to remain consciously critical of) because my biggest momxiety of all is that the manifestation of my momxieties will stunt my children's growth, limit experimentation with the world, and or cause them to deny their authentic selves.

Just thought I would share in case any other moms are harbouring any unspoken momxieties of their own.