Anxious 2.5 year old...

[BeachBumMum2]

My DS1 has always been a sensitive little thing. But this week he said to me, 'Mummy I'm worried about daddy going to work'. I asked him why - and he said he was worried that daddy might crash (probably not as coherently as this - but this is the gist). He's never seen a car crash before. It made me so sad to think he was worried about something so big - even though he is still so small. But what worried me most is that he sounded like me! I get really worried about things like that - it's like he can read my mind. I'm sure I've not said anything like this in front of him - I just say 'drive carefully'. But he must be picking it up from me? Do any of you have worriers? How do you handle it? (He's an hilarious back seat driver too - and often comments on my driving!).

He sounds articulate and sensitive. I would more than watch what you're saying in front of him but watch what you're doing...and how you're acting. How you react when things DO go wrong may inform some of what he's feeling...though some of it could just be inbuilt.x I

I have never understood why so many people say 'Drive carefully'.

Similarly, many people say to a child going into school, 'Be good'. We never said that to our DS, because it would never have occurred to us that he might be anything BUT good.

Obviously, one would imagine any one in charge of a car would ALWAYS drive reasonably and as carefully as they are able, though some people are more experienced and considerate as drivers than others.

And I dread to think what 'hilarious comments' a toddler might make to a responsible driver.

Thanks Mrs Tawdry - you're absolutely right. My sister made a really good point to me this weekend - my son was being really timid with her and didn't want to be around her (she's very different from me - a strong, forceful character). I said to him - 'don't be frightened of your auntie - she loves you very much'. My sister pointed out that I then put that idea in his head - what a good point. I was trying to be sensitive but actually I was probably adding to the issue! So I completely see your point too Ferguson. 'Drive carefully' is a strange thing to say. My mum was the ultimate backseat driver - she cannot cope in a car unless she is driving. So to me saying 'drive carefully' and feeling nervous in a car is normal behaviour in my world. Thanks for your feedback. My ds is such a sponge and I need to be much more aware of my behaviour around him (particularly hard at moment as have a baby (ds2) and sleep deprivation has been getting the better of me.