Baby "Pistachio" Blog: Separation Anxiety

Some time around Jason and my anniversary (Memorial Day weekend), Bree decided it would be a fabulous idea to try her hand at having separation anxiety! At first it was cute. Bree would cry and grab a hold of my shirt whenever I tried to put her down or pass her to her dad. The cries were extreme but definitely noticeable and made me feel special and loved. Of course the beauty of this feeling wore off very quickly when I soon realized that the cries were going to get more intense and last longer EVERY SINGLE SECOND I tried to put Bree down or give her to someone else. It became unreal. For at least two weekends I couldn't put her down, give her to Jason, and walk away for a second (even to go to the bathroom) without Bree having a complete meltdown. Jason felt pushed away and abandoned while I felt exhausted and smothered. I couldn't believe she wouldn't go to Jason, especially since Jason is the one that takes her mainly to daycare and picks her up every day. Often times, Jason spends more time with her than I do just because of my work schedule. Then it got worse where Bree would only go to women....no men (including Jason). So she would be in her teacher's arms when Jason went to daycare to pick her up and would start to scream and tantrum when the teacher tried to give Bree to Jason. Poor guy, I don't know how he managed to not feel so bad or rejected. He tried to give me a break from Bree whenever he could, but of course all his efforts ended with Bree screaming. One night to prove a point, Jason was talking to his father and had me hold Bree. I then gave Bree to Jason. Bree proceeded to scream and throw a huge fit. I then took Bree back in my arms and she immediately stopped crying and began playing. What a little stinker ha. Thankfully the separation anxiety has begun to lift, because I don't think I could have stood it much longer. The trips to Lowes and Target were awful. She didn't want to be pushed in the cart and would only allow me to hold her. My back was ready to give out! It's amazing how quickly something so cute can turn into a pain in your back (literally).