Daycare: I cried my butt off!!!

[Alisse]

So my son just started daycare (full-time) last week. I had really big concerns, as some of you may remember, about him refusing to drink formula or EBM and imagining that he was going to starve all day, everyday. Well to update: He's alive and he's eating purees plus water/barley tea, then nurses all night long. Someone's usually wearing him in the carriers i've provided and he doesn't fuss too much. But that's kind of besides the point...

I'm writing to declare how surprised i was at my reaction to him being away from me, especially on the night before he started daycare. I CRIED SO HARD the night before that the next day my eyes were almost swollen completely shut! LOL! I thought i was going to worry about him adjusting when it was i who had the worst separation anxiety! I was so freaked out that my husband was extremely concerned about me, above and beyond his concern for his child, because i was falling apart at the seams!!! Oh my goodness, i find myself laughing at myself now because i swear, at the time, i didn't think i could survive being apart from him! I miss him like crazy everyday and wish i never had to go back to work but i'm coping ok now.

Anyone else react like this?

I wish someone had warned me this would happen! Hmm...don't think it would have helped lessen the crying though.

[Alyantavid]

I think it's pretty normal. I think I cried the whole way to work for the first week my kids both started daycare. But it does get better.

[Jend1002]

I reacted like that! In fact, his daycare sent me a photo of him snoozing on his first day and even if I look at it now, it brings back those feelings...they were so strong. I knew I'd be upset, but I was a wreck. Like PP said, it does get better!

[StephandOwen]

Very very normal! I can't tell you how many parents either drop off their children for the first time (or 10) with tears in their eyes or come pick up their child during the first week or so of daycare with tears in their eyes or we've even had parents call us on their kids first day (or week) crying and asking how the baby is doing. Typically the baby is laughing and having a great time while the mama is the one doing the crying

[brittney_]

My DS was 2 when he started daycare (had been with Grandma before that). I bawled! I kept expecting a phone call or something from the daycare. When I went to pick him up he didn't want to leave! I think it's definitely harder on us mamas then the little ones.

[justKate]

I was surprised by my tears, too. Not sure if this is an option for you, but I've been journaling at work for my daughter. Not every day, but maybe twice a week, when I miss her. I write it like a letter to her, telling her about the things she does, what I miss, what she likes and dislikes, etc. Hopefully someday she'll see it and understand how hard it was for me to be away from her. Plus it makes me feel more connected during my day.

[intrepidmother]

Honestly? This post made me feel hopeful about going to work full time and leaving DD with a nanny. I hope that I'll be the only one going through separation anxiety!