Mother's Intuition

I was watching the very first episode of  the Dick Van Dike Show last night. The episode was the one in which Rob wants Laura to go to an office get together with him but she doesn't want to because she has a feeling that Ritchie is going to get sick while she is gone. Laura tells Rob it's women's intuition that something is going to happen. They go anyway, and sure enough, something happens. Ritchie doesn't get sick but the babysitter hits her head and the doctor has to come to the house. God gives mothers this wonderful intuition to know when we need to be on guard against danger for our children. I can usually tell when one of mine is going to be sick based on a series of clues that only I seem to detect. Fathers have other parenting gifts but the intuition seems to be mainly a mother's gift. The question is, when does that intuition segue to fear and hypochondria. Laura was basing her whole feeling about Ritchie's impending illness on the fact that he didn't want a cupcake. I've done this before. I see a small insignificant look pass over my child's face and then I begin to worry. Is something wrong? Is he getting sick? Did someone hurt her feelings? I let it spiral out of control. I let Satan take the gift that God gave me and use it against me. So how do we know the difference between real trouble on the horizon and the times we're being lied to? I've found that letting an hour go by before I address the situation usually helps me discern between real and imaginary. During that hour I don't dwell and worry about the situation or ask the child about it at all. Then after the hour I ask myself about it again. Does the child seem unhappy now? Is the child looking green or coughing? If so, it's time to react to mother's intuition. If not, it's probably just your mind in over drive. We have to learn to use, but not overuse, the gifts we are given as mothers. While you are thinking about that, relax and enjoy the very first episode of The Dick Van Dike Show.