I Cried In Front of My Son and I'm a Guilty Mom For Doing it

Photo byClaudia WolffonUnsplash

I am a mother of five children, ranging from 18 to 1 years old. My two middle children have additional needs; my son has autism and my daughter has a brain injury and learning difficulties. My husband and I work full-time to juggle childcare, and although we share the load well, I tend to do most of the thinking for the family. Recently, our cat escaped, and someone found him and posted on our local community group that he looked neglected or abused. This upset me, and I panicked, which is out of character for me. When I spoke to my husband about the cat, I started crying and felt overwhelmed. My husband told me he would sort the cat, and not to worry. My son (17) came downstairs and saw me crying. He took the baby and made me a cup of tea and reassured me that the vet knows we have taken good care of the cat. He offered to take his younger brother to the shops to get the shopping, but I declined. I feel guilty that my son had to take care of me and that he saw me like that. Although I have explained that I was tired and shouldn't have cried, I am worried that he may be worrying now. Should I do anything else, or am I overthinking the situation?

I should provide more context about our family. My husband and I both work full-time jobs to provide for our family, which can be quite stressful. We are also proud of our children and the way they have adapted to their siblings' additional needs. It can be challenging to manage everything, but we are a close-knit family and try to support each other in every way possible.

When our cat went missing, it was very distressing for me. I am someone who can usually handle things, but in that moment, I felt overwhelmed. When my son came downstairs and saw me crying, I felt guilty for exposing him to my vulnerability. However, he was very supportive and took care of me, which I appreciated.

Despite his reassurances, I still worry that he may be upset or worried about me. I know that it can be tough for children to see their parents cry, but I also believe that it is important to show them that it is okay to express their emotions. My son has grown up seeing his siblings with additional needs, so I try to be mindful of not burdening him with their care. However, he is a part of our family, and I believe that it is healthy for us to support each other.