Emotional mommy state!

Today i went to an elementary school open house for my son. The minute i walked into the school and saw all the tiny little children with their back packs, walking to/from here/there i started to get emotional.  I mean, i felt the urge to cry!  It wasn't that the school was an unhappy place.  On the contrary, it was a very happy place.  In fact, everyone seemed happy and i could feel the excitement in the air.  I also wasn't hurt, scared, or sad i.e. the normal reasons i usually cry.  Instead, what i was experiencing was this inexplicable emotional mommy state i get in when i see young children sometimes.  

I never use to be this way, that is, until after i had my children.  

It doesn't matter where i am -- in a grocery store, getting gas, in an airport. If i hear a baby crying, nine times out of ten, it makes me want to cry.  The worst is when i drop my son off at preschool in the morning.  I i sometimes see this new 3yr old crying and holding on tight to his mommy's leg, begging her to not leave him. Of course, this makes me want to cry.

In fact, when i get this way, i have to tell myself to not cry! "Focus!" i say. "Do not cry!" "Think of something else!" And that usually prevents me from crying. Most of the time though my eyes well up with tears and i look like i am about to cry and i can't speak for a minute or so.

And did i forgot to mention the commercials on the t.v. and the movies that have children in them? And the news --print, online, and t.v. -- related to children!  

No doubt the emotion is related to my children and how much i love them (I mean LOVE!!!!! them) and want to protect them from harm and hurt feelings.  To soothe and comfort them. They are so young and so innocent. They seem so fragile. Yet they are so smart and resilient; independent and strong; full of spirit, daring, and in a word, Amazing!   

Uh oh. Here i go again. Time to get the kleenex!