Separation Anxiety - any other 1 yr olds experiencing right now?

[etwahl]

just curious how the other babies are handling separation anxiety right now. lauren is definitely going through this. she watches me like a hawk whenever i go anywhere. she doesn't do well at the gym at all. i go usually for 20 minutes and end up having to leave (often less time). the only problem with the gym is she gets comfortable enough, but it's when the other moms come to drop off or pick up their kids that she gets upset. i guess she thinks i should be coming to get her.

just curious how other moms have dealt with this. i have a special deal on my gym membership where I can quit after 3 months if childcare issues don't improve. i mentioned this to my neighbor (who is pretty cranky anyway) and she said "oh i guess you're never planning to send her to pre-school", me "yeah, when she's older"...she makes a comment like i'll never be able to send her to preschool if i can't just let her cry and make it work at the gym. it's not like the daycare workers want her upset and crying either. i'm sure it's not fun for them for her to be upset. and besides, i told them to come get me if things just weren't improving each time.

Tammy,
Mom to Lauren Genevieve
03/12/2003
www.evantammy.com

[kfcboston]

Yes, yes and YES. We are in the throes of this as well. Last trip to the gym the child watch folks (who are excellent) tried for 15 minutes straight to comfort him before they had to give up and come get me. My solution lately? Not bring him to the gym. Playgroup tends to be a bear sometimes too. He has no trouble when it's just him and me at home and I leave the room for a bit, but when it's unfamiliar surroundings and/or people, all bets are off.

Yea, the wisecrack comments get old fast, don't they? Sigh. I've heard this is a stage, so I'm just trying to get through it. If they outgrow it, why try to beat it out of them, so to speak? I just can't take that approach.

Hang in there!

Tammy,
Tell your neighbor to "stuff it" :) Both my girls went/are going through it. My son could have cared less who he was left with - Mr. Happy Go Lucky.

FWIW, Tess had terrible sep. anxiety up to age 2 1/2. And I did have to quit my gym. We participated in a playgroup 1x a week at her preschool prior to her enrollment. And when she started preschool, at age 3 3/4 - no problems whatsoever!!! She's a confident, independent, social butterfly.

And it looks like Neve is going to take after her big sis. I picture myself back in shape in about 2 more years :)

HTH

Anna went through a 4-6 week period where she clung to me like glue. It didn't matter where we were, but she was worse outside the home. She started around 13 mos and it got worse and worse, then got better. She now does pretty well and just today she abandoned me at Gymboree to go play on the equipment.

It is a phase. It's probably the hardest phase I've experienced yet. Don't let your smarty-pants neighbor get you down. My niece was the shyest girl that ever was and just started preschool at 3 1/2. She is doing great and doesn't cry for her parents at all.

Cindy and Anna 2/11/03