How to Deal with Separation Anxiety as a Working Mom

These days, many moms have to leave their babies at home so they can go to work. It breaks my heart when my two-year-old sees me grab my keys, and he makes a run for the door. When I leave without him, I can hear his screams behind the door. However, this is better than when I try to sneak away. My baby-sitter says he will cry for an hour, looking all over the house for me. He is very attached to mommy; if I go upstairs to switch out the laundry, he howls at the bottom of the stairs until I come back.

Is it just me, or did this separation anxiety come out of nowhere?

The only time I haven't worked since I've had my baby was his first six months of life. He had no problem with me being gone, had even gotten used to it and gave me good-bye kisses. However, I work for a school district, so I was off all summer. When school started back up, the separation anxiety appeared. I never went through anything like this with my four-year-old, who is so used to mommy and daddy working that he blows us a kiss and sends us on our way. I never expected it out of my baby, who is one of the most independent little boys I have ever seen. So, the question is, what can you do?

You just have to get through it. Everyone I have spoken to says it will pass in a few months. Here are some tricks I have learned to help until that time comes and would like to pass on to fellow readers:

• Don't sneak out the door. Say good-bye to your kiddos properly with a kiss and a hug. Then, they won't spend all day looking for you.
• If you have a baby who still naps, take advantage! Try to arrange his/her schedule so that you can lay him down before you leave. Hopefully, he/she will sleep most of the time you are gone, or at least until Daddy gets home. It tends to soften the blow.
• Spend as much quality time with them as possible. I used to take my oldest with me to the store when I got home because he is easier to deal with when we're out. Now, I take my baby, and I make sure I bring a cuppie and a snack to curb any boredom.

If you're like me, it hurts your heart to leave. If you had the resources to be a stay-at-home mom, you would. Even if you appreciate the extra bit of sanity you find in your job (because, face it, sanity is hard to find in a house full of kids), separation is still hard. Whatever your case may be, just remember you're working hard for those babies to have great lives, and be sure to pack as many memorable moments with them as possible.