Am I strange

[bigmamama]

So since having my 2nd baby almost 18 months ago, I have these reoccurring thoughts of poor crying babies and children all over the world.
Sad, hungry unloved uncared for and abused children and babies and I have no idea why?! It breaks my heart and I hate that I can't help or save any one of them.
These seem weird and slightly strange to me and I haven't spoken about it to anyone out loud, at first I thought it was my hormones after giving birth.
I can't watch any child in danger or harms way of any kind on tv, I can't listen to people telling stories. Iv found myself crying at the thought of it on a night time.
Iv started donating to charity, Iv gave bag fulls of clothes and toys Iv donated to food banks even.
I just can't make it go away and obviously it will go on no matter what I do. But I can't keep thinking like this it's awful!
Am I weird and alone or is anyone else the same

No you’re not alone I often have similar thoughts but it sounds as though your feelings have got a bit out of hand if you’re crying at night about it. It must be exhausting for you.

Is it anxiety about something else manifesting in this way?

You need to speak to someone about this and get some support. Be it a friend or a professional

I'm exactly the same. Before I had my son sad stories about children didn't touch me, I just couldn't relate but since I had my son it really affects me, I can be upset for days over something I've read. You're definitely not alone

I don’t think it’s strange OP, I think it’s a normal reaction to realising how helpless and fragile babies are and also how quickly and deeply you care for them and your whole focus shifts towards them. It’s unbearable to imagine harm towards them.

I remember seeing a news item about an abandoned toddler in China when my children were little and just crying and crying and feeling like I needed to go and talk to someone about it because it was so heartbreaking.

I think these feelings tend to lessen as our kids get older and less helpless, but I still would never choose to watch a TV show where a child is harmed or abandoned for example.

I also think how wonderful that you’re doing what you can - isn’t that how we all should feel to some extent? Isn’t it worse to live life oblivious and blind to harm to babies and children. I started volunteering once my kids were a bit older, helping mums/families, and definitely donate more than I used to.

If you’re generally very tearful and concentrating on the sadder aspects of the world, then I would encourage you to focus on looking after yourself and consider whether you need to seek help, but if these feelings are just one part of the picture and mostly you enjoy life, see positives etc then I would say it can be a normal reaction to parenthood. Either way it’s important to look after yourself and remind yourself you can only do what you can do, and after that it’s no good dwelling, so if you can, try instead to focus on what you’re doing to make a difference inspired by your feelings.

You’re normal and it’s natural. When we started weaning DD I burst into tears one day as I presented her with a ridiculous variety of fruit and veg that I’d lovingly prepared because not all the babies in the world can have loads of vegetables to choose from (before they chuck them on the floor as mine inevitably did ) and parents who have the luxury of worrying about that stuff. Most of the news now looks like a horror film because behind all of those stories are children suffering in one way or another and parents in some sort of distress. It’s awful. But you’re using your compassion and empathy in healthy ways.

I could've written this post! I am feeling completely sad, had DD1 a year ago and thought it would go away.

I feel soo helpless and dont want to exist in a world where children are harmed then one of my kids want me and I snap back into reality. Its like when i tet 5 min to myself these thoughts come back

I am so sorry you feel this way OP I dont have any helpful points to give but letting you know I feel your pain and all i can give you is a hug

Thank you for all your lovely replies. I'm so glad I'm not alone!
As ridiculous as it sounds I just want to go out into the world and help all the poor helpless children I want to feed them and love them and just do what a parent should. But I know how totally impossible it is and just the thought of one poor baby actually makes my heart hurt. I'm glad it's kind of normal to feel like this and I count my lucky stars at how fortunate me and my family are.
I think it may be this time of year, knowing a lot more people are struggling. I don't know maybe i do have some deep issues I'm not aware of?
Just feel like I'm struggling with this a lot more than usual.

@bigmamama thank you for writing this post as I thought I was the only one who had these thoughts as well! It can be so overwhelming and I used to feel helpless and angry that I couldn't help all children on the world have a nice life - and I wished all children could be loved like we love our DD. I've slowly eased up on the intensity of these feelings - I think a lot is down to hormones as well. I too give to charities and give away so many extra baby toys and clothes to those in need.

So no you are certainly it alone in these thoughts.