separation anxiety/shyness in 3.5yo?

[spoony]

Ok, my 3.5yo DS has always been shy and even on the rude side when he does talk to a stranger. We're dealing with that although it's hard. I try to tell him to be polite and I've even started telling him if he can't be polite to not say anything at all. Once he gets to know you pretty well he's usually fine, though. He started preschool this year (after being home with me all the time) and at first did great! His dad would drop him off and I would pick him up. He would tell me to leave he didn't want to go home. However, he started pitching little tantrums, screaming, falling to the floor refusing to go into his classroom. His dad was getting so frustrated with him that I thought I would give it a try. I would go into his classroom until he warmed up and then I would slip out. Well, last Thursday and today he's been crying and getting really upset. He even started crying before we left the house this morning. I've just had to leave him with my heart breaking. They say he calms down and does fine. I've questioned him about the teachers and the other kids and he says they're all nice. My first impulse is to comfort him and keep him home, but I want him to be able to get along with others and be able to function without me at times. I wonder if it's separation anxiety. Is he jealous that I'm home with my other DS and not him? What is it I wonder? Does anyone have any helpful advice?

[finn'smama]

I have no advice, but have been struggling with this as well with my 3.5 yo. He goes twice a week to the babysitter's with his brother and freaks out every time. He starts crying as soon as I wake him up to go. Interestingly, my ds is the opposite of shy! He just does not want to be without me right now. He's even sleeping in our bed again.
Anyway, . I'm interested to see the responses you get.