Updated: Oct. 29, 2020
Originally Published: April 12, 2011
Back in my teenage years, I had a peculiar dream that my former boyfriend had sent me a love letter from Venezuela. When I woke up, I dashed to the mailbox, and to my astonishment, there was indeed a letter from him. If that’s not proof of psychic abilities, then I don’t know what is!
Unfortunately, I’ve never had any control over when these powers choose to show themselves. However, since becoming a mother, my ability to foresee events seems to have sharpened. After chatting with my mom friends, I’ve discovered I’m not alone in this phenomenon. It turns out that all moms possess at least a hint of precognition.
The Classic Drink-Spill Scenario
Take, for example, the classic drink-spill scenario (this is bound to sound familiar): One evening, my family was gathered for a lively dinner. I noticed my son, Oliver (age 6), bouncing in his chair more than usual, like a little squirrel remembering where he buried its acorns. And he was holding a cup filled with juice.
That dreaded feeling washed over me: he’s definitely going to spill that drink.
I thought, “I need to intervene.”
“Oliver,” I warned, “You’re going to spill your drink if you keep bouncing around. Be careful!”
Mission accomplished, right?
Not even close. About thirty seconds later, his drink splattered spectacularly across the table, just as I’d predicted. Sound familiar?
As much as I hate to admit it, I’m the type of person who says, “I told you so.” Not only because I can be a bit of a nag, but also because it’s vital to recognize the wisdom I often share. If everyone would just acknowledge my foresight by hearing me out the first time, perhaps I wouldn’t have to say, “Didn’t I just say that would happen?” as often.
I will not back down in this pursuit.
So, I laid down the law with Oliver, sending him to time-out after he cleaned up his mess. “You’re not in time-out for spilling your drink. You’re in time-out because I warned you, and you didn’t listen.”
I’m pretty sure that counts as stellar parenting!
A Unique Ability
While Oliver was in time-out, my husband, a logical engineer, pointed out that I do seem to possess a unique ability to predict the future. He also raised an interesting question: “If you can see the future, can you change it?” Unfortunately, the answer is a resounding no. Even with foresight, you can’t alter what’s meant to happen.
So, while we moms have this intriguing talent of foreseeing events, it often feels pointless. Knowing what’s about to occur—and the futile attempts to prevent it—only leads to unnecessary anxiety. In fact, my little experiment seemed to confirm that trying to prevent something I foresaw might actually cause it to happen. By warning Oliver about his wild bouncing, I likely distracted him from his drink, increasing the chances of a spill.
Profound, right?
So maybe the next time I see my child careening toward a drink disaster, the best strategy would be to remain silent.
Yeah, right! Like that’s going to happen.
Honestly, I want a different superpower; this one is less than ideal.
Further Reading
For more on parenting challenges and insights, check out our other blog post on Home Insemination Kit. You might find it helpful, along with this article on IUI success rates from WebMD. If you’re considering at-home insemination, visit Make a Mom for expert advice and resources.
In summary, while mothers may possess a unique foresight into the future, it often leads to frustration when our attempts to prevent mishaps backfire. We have the gift of prediction, but it seems to come with a hefty dose of anxiety and messy outcomes.