Mommy Get Your Gun- May 29, 2012

Every mother deals with postpartum anxiety differently. Most of you know my story in all its gruesome detail. I’ve been told I was “brave” to tell it. I had many of you email me your thanks and tell your own stories. I thank you for that. I don’t feel brave, so I appreciate it and I’m glad to know I may have helped someone.

Last week I met a woman with a 10-month-old who had a whole new take on things.

This new mom was telling a group of women about the horrible nightmares she was having. She dreamed that someone was coming in her home and stealing her daughter from the crib. She described sleepless nights when she would lay in bed praying no one would take her baby. She would often wake her husband up to get his gun in the middle of the night. Finally she had enough.

She said, “I decided I didn’t want to use his rifle. It’s too big. I went downtown today and got my gun license. I’m getting my own pistol. I’m sleeping better already!” She laughed and joked about it.

Alright girl. Get it. If that’s what helps you sleep at night, I say go for it.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a gun owner and I believe in strict firearms laws. But, I also don’t want to infringe on anyone’s rights or judge another mother for doing what she thinks is best to protect her child. I certainly wouldn’t want a gun-toting mama to judge me for taking meds and getting therapy. I chose Zoloft. She chose Smith & Wesson. To each mom her own.