Are other parents this emotional about random things?

[Anonymous]

I often find myself getting emotional and teary eyed about oftentimes some unexpected (and kind of embarrassing) kid related things. My kids are 8 and 10 and numerous times I have found myself tearing up at their school (parent nights, first days, last days, performances), at camp (first and last days but also even like - reading about the camp!). Do other parents experience this?? I cannot work out why it is that I feel this way other than maybe a constant existential crisis.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes but I’m on Prozac now and it’s gone away. I prefer myself on Prozac versus how I was before.

[Anonymous]

Yes I have this. I was never very emotional before.

[Anonymous]

Not at all. But I notice a lot of parents seem enmeshed with their kids in a way that I'm not. Like parents will say "We go to private school." No, your KIDS go to private school. Or "we're in soccer and swim." No, THEY are. I think those are the parents more likely to absorb everything their kids go through as if they're going through it, and they confuse that with caring.

[Anonymous]

Everytime I imagine them not being children anymore- the passing of time makes me sad, so yes I’ve cried (to myself) at first and last days of school and camp.
Mine are younger, than yours

[Anonymous]

That's sweet.

[Anonymous]

Yes, sometimes. I've always been an emotionally available person, but there's a specific thing that happens with my kids where I will find myself tearing up in conversation and it's not immediately even clear why.

One that always gets me is when my kid has a teacher or coach who seems to genuinely care about them. On many occasions, I've felt my eyes start to well up in conversations with a teacher who is saying something kind or insightful about my child, or just demonstrating real affection for them. Something about another adult really seeing and investing in my kid is so incredibly touching to me. Maybe it's because we don't have supportive family and our own parents/siblings don't do this? So I'm just so touched by anyone who does. I really have to work to control it because I don't want to freak out these lovely teachers and coaches by randomly crying when they say they were proud of my kid's hustle in practice today, or that they were laughing hard at something funny they said in class. I just feel this very, very deeply.

[Anonymous]

Yep- sometimes. And all 3 of mine are teens now. Normal- but obviously try to keep it under wraps!

[Anonymous]

Yes, 11 was most teary for me. Childhood ended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not at all. But I notice a lot of parents seem enmeshed with their kids in a way that I'm not. Like parents will say "We go to private school." No, your KIDS go to private school. Or "we're in soccer and swim." No, THEY are. I think those are the parents more likely to absorb everything their kids go through as if they're going through it, and they confuse that with caring.

[phone]

[Anonymous]

Not nearly to this extreme, no

[Anonymous]

I have this once in a while but it sounds like you are having it more often. Is it detracting from your ability to be present as a parent?

[Anonymous]

Anything that suggests growing up/passage of time does it for me, but not as many things as what you're describing.

[Anonymous]

Yes, but weirdly not about my own kid (pyschoanalyze that!)

I tear up watching kids' performances, during the community 4th of July parade, and most recently, at a slide show of baby pics of our ES' graduating 6th graders that was scrolling in the school lobby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, sometimes. I've always been an emotionally available person, but there's a specific thing that happens with my kids where I will find myself tearing up in conversation and it's not immediately even clear why.

One that always gets me is when my kid has a teacher or coach who seems to genuinely care about them. On many occasions, I've felt my eyes start to well up in conversations with a teacher who is saying something kind or insightful about my child, or just demonstrating real affection for them. Something about another adult really seeing and investing in my kid is so incredibly touching to me. Maybe it's because we don't have supportive family and our own parents/siblings don't do this? So I'm just so touched by anyone who does. I really have to work to control it because I don't want to freak out these lovely teachers and coaches by randomly crying when they say they were proud of my kid's hustle in practice today, or that they were laughing hard at something funny they said in class. I just feel this very, very deeply.

I'm the same way. We had a fantastic in-home daycare provider and for years after I'd take the kids to see her around the holidays. I always teared up upon seeing her. When another person shows kindness to my kids, I'm really grateful. And for someone who meticulously cared for my babies, the gratitude is just overflowing.