"Now you have kids, you’ll always worry for the rest of your life."
It might sound extreme, but it’s not unusual. We all know that constant undercurrent of worry or fear.
Before children, we rarely worried about our own lives. But once we become parents, worry creeps in over the smallest things — things that might not even seem worth noticing.
We worry our child hasn’t eaten enough.
We worry they don’t get enough sleep.
We worry about the friends they play with.
We worry… and worry some more.
The worry feels endless. Can we really let it go?
Probably not. Worry is part of being human — a survival mechanism that keeps us alert and aware. It helps us plan ahead, avoid danger, and protect our children. In that sense, worry isn’t always bad.
But are all worries necessary?
Probably not. We no longer live in the tight-knit tribes of our ancestors. Today, life is complex, delicate, and full of pressures. We feel the need to get everything right, especially when it comes to our kids. We fear their mistakes, their hurts — and to make it harder, most of the time we face these fears alone.
The real problem isn’t worry itself. The real problem is knowing where to place our worries.
What truly matters to our children? Which worries deserve our attention — and which can we let go?
Do we need to constantly compare ourselves to others? What would happen if we stopped?
What if we allowed our kids to fail at something? What lessons might they learn?
Comparison won’t help us become better parents. But focusing on our own path — and our own dreams — will.
Getting hurt teaches caution. Failing teaches lessons that nothing else can.
There may be more questions than answers, but it’s worth pausing to think them through. Sometimes reflection alone brings clarity. And sometimes, finding your people — your tribe — makes the path feel lighter.