How do I feel about my child’s separation anxiety? Honestly, it’s absolutely one of the most delightful feelings I really enjoy as a mom.
I remember when my daughter was between 8-9 months old. Just like every mother, I couldn’t forget those moments.
At that time, she often asked for more attention from me rather than from anybody in the house. No matter where she was or who was holding her, as soon as she saw me, she suddenly cried as if she was asking me to hold her.
When I came close to her, she abruptly opened his arms and looked so happy. Her cry stopped in a moment. It was truly an unspoken feeling I had experienced.
But there was also the time when she acted differently from what I had expected. When I went for work, I thought she would cry hard to see me leaving her. I hugged her tight and kissed her face again and again.
I told her, “Baby, Mommy has to go to work now. Eat and drink a lot, okay? And have a good nap. I’ll be back. Love you much. Bye-bye.”
Sometimes she kept looking at me when I said so. I expected her to start weeping. But it didn’t happen. I wondered why. I found out later that she was interested in the wheels of the car I traveled in every day.
Whenever the car started to run, my daughter always kept her eyes on the wheels. Looking at them spinning must have been very exciting to her. I just smiled, though my heart broke a little. I soothed myself by thinking that it was good for her to be curious about strange things.
My daughter is a baby who has a sleeping problem. Throughout the night during her sleep, she often woke up several times. If she woke up and didn’t find me nearby, she would cry out loud, making the whole house panic as if something really bad happens.
When I got into the bedroom, she would crawl toward me, and then I hugged her. she’d be calm afterward. Breastfeeding really worked to put her back to sleep.
Thank God I decided to breastfeed her so that I wouldn’t be engaged with the rush of preparing formula during the night. Yes, I chose to breastfeed her in nighttimes, even though she still got the formula in day times.
Maybe this breastfeeding activity had created a bond between us. I enjoyed it, and still until now. This might also make my daughter not want to stay away from me.
If your baby or child has the same characteristic as my daughter has, I’m sure you have the same feeling as I do. If you think that your baby’s cry (for being away from you) annoy you, just remember that it won’t last forever.
Separation anxiety is a phase in your child’s development during his early years of life. Almost all children go through this experience. What I can suggest you just enjoy these intimate moments before they’re gone along with your child’s growth.
From what I’ve heard from my friends about this, you’re gonna miss the moments. To me, even now, I really don’t want the phase fade away.
Wait, wait. There’s one more thing I’d like to share with you, which you may not think will make your child comfortable. I remember my friend told me that if you’re going somewhere, don’t forget to tell your child that you’ll be back. Instead of sneaking out of the house, waving your hand and saying that you’ll be back will soothe him somehow.
