Do you ever give a nod to your natural instincts?

Last weekend we went to Bass Pro, aka Outdoor world. We wanted to look at tents for camping in the backyard. As a family we often make a fun trip out of going there, to see the fish, and the stuffed animals. My husband and older son apporached a stuffed, rather large bear, exposing his teeth ferociously.

When I got close to the bear, while holding my 6 months old baby gal in my sling, I had to "override" this funny auto wtihdrawal from the bear urge. I giggled about it, but I acknowledged it. As a female with her young one, my instintcs told me to GET WAWY from that bear with sharp teeth. Don't get me wrong, I didn't give in to my instincts, and run screaming from the store, but i did NOD at them... Out of respect of course. Afterall God gave me those instincts for a reason.

I have noticed this at the zoo too. Ever been on the Lion deck at Cincinnati Zoo? Or near the crocodile pit? I hate it there. My momma instincts go all funny and uncomfortable. I want to get AWAY from there with my children as soon as possible.

I happen to wear a heart rate watch for when I teach my fitness classes, and often wear it out of habit now, so I noticed one day, that when I am near the Lions, and crocodiles that my heart rate is increased, despite the thick and supposedly safe partition dividing us. Why? Well I think it is my instincts saying "Um HELLO! Have you noticed that large predator over there? We don't care that it is the year 2010, for all we know it is the year 1610, back away from the Lions you silly woman!" and my instincts then dump adrenaline into my blood in case I need to "fight or flight" increasing my heart rate.

I think instincts are good. I think it is good to give them a nod. If you pay attention to your intincts, you will be aware of them more, and will know to follow them WHEN they are important, and guiding you. Sometimes they obviously don't apply in modern day life, like at Bass Pro, my instincts told me I was in danger from the bear, but of course, I really wasn't....

BUT when your pediatrician, or that lil sweet lady with good intentions tells you to put that baby down so you don't spoil her, you will have heard your instincts speaking on the matter, and will know who to listen to.

My dog had pups about 10 years back. She was an oustanding mother. She made some human moms look like, well...dogs... WHy? She was smart enough to follow her instincts. She didn't take the advice of the busy body poodle up the street who had never even had pups before. She nursed her pups, and slept next to them, and counted them, and kept them clean. If one of them cried she attented to it, immediately, licking it, and nuzzling it with her momma nose of comfort. Some modern day moms though are not as smart as my doggie.

Do you ever feel uncomfortable when your baby is out of your eyesight, in the other room? Be honest. Despite the monitor with it's bionic ears, monitors don't fight off saber tooth tigers....your momma instincts will want you to keep your baby close. I am always more relaxed when my baby is near me, or better yet, in my arms or sling. If I am doing chores with the monitor on while she sleeps, I am always stopping and cranking my ear out of place to hear her. And despite the perfect electronic ears of my monitor, I will still find myself tip toeing in to peek on her, making sure she is okay.

I know there are no bears are in my house, the doors are locked, but my instincts say BE NEAR TINY BABY. I am not saying you can't ever put baby down....but again, a nod and aknowlegement to one's instincts would be a helpful thing in this plastic society that we now live in. I think some people have sadly forgotten how to hear their human instincts...
and they have lost the ability to decipher when the bear is real.