Parenting Emotions - Instinctiveness

Did you know that each of us parents have a secret weapon

It comes in very handy

In all manner of parenting situations and dilemmas

Its that feeling that something is not quite right

Commonly called our Instinct

Of course using our instinct isn't always straight forward
There are times when our instinct hides behind other emotions
Self Doubt, Guilt and Wariness to name a few
But we should all try and take note of the times when our Instinct is trying to fight on our behalf
Its the times when you get an awareness that things are not what they seem, something isn't quite right, it doesn't feel entirely comfortable, an alarm is ringing somewhere in the back of your mind.

When you get these feelings, this is our instinct screaming out to  us. Generally things don't feel right for a reason.............usually because they are NOT right !!!!

Examples of when instinct can kick in could be.....
Your young child is not happy, everyone is telling you that baby is being unsettled but deep down you KNOW that something does not feel right
Listen to your Instinct and act on it
If you think there is something more sinister going on then get it checked.

My 14 year old was only 5 when he kept waking in the morning and telling me he could not walk, he would cry for me to carry him everywhere, people were telling me it was morning cramp but I knew it was more than that. Finally after a couple of days of this I followed my instinct and took him to the doctors, it was soon confirmed that there was something seriously wrong and we were immediately transferred into hospital. Basically an infection called cellulitis had got into Thomas' system through a cut on his knee, travelled around his body and settle onto his hip, he was on 24 hour surgery alert and having bone scans every 4 hours if it looked like the infection was spreading to the bone he would have been right into the theatre, fortunately because I had listened to my instinct we caught it in time, he was intravenous anti biotics, in hospital for 5 days, couldn't walk  for about 2 weeks but is fine now with no re occurrence since.

Your child is coming home from school and you notice they are not so bubbly, they are cutting themselves off from the family, they are quieter and getting in trouble with school. The teacher calls you in and says your child has become very naughty and cheeky in class and so will be losing priveliges. But you know this doesn't feel right with you
Listen to your instinct and act on it

I had this situation myself with one of mine, after coaxing and having some fun time with my child, it turned out my child was being bullied and was being told they could be in the gang and not be picked on if they achieved certain challenges during school. My child was not happy about this but at the same time wanted the bullying to stop and saw no way out of this. We were able to go into the school and discuss this with the teacher, the teacher was able to catch the other children at this with another child too, they lost their priveliges, my child regained their confidence, made other friends and still had nothing to do with the ones that had been bullying them in the first place. In fact, all the other children in the class pretty much left that particular group of friends quite isolated too !!!!!!

Your child has been invited to a friends sleepover
Everything sounds fine, they are 17 years old after all, but you are aware of hushed conversations and no eye contact when you discuss their plans
Listen to your instinct and act on it

This happened to one of my work colleagues recently, her son was going to a party at staying over, or so she thought, when she did confront them it turned out there was no sleep over at all, her sons friends parents, knew nothing about it !!!!!! Instead there was a group going for an all night drinking binge as a dare in the woods !!!!!!! She was able to stop this  !!!!!!


So there you have it, the secret weapon, its just up to us to listen to it and act on it