Having a difficult time dropping off at daycare

[Anonymous]

I've been dropping my 1 yo DS at daycare for months. He loves it there and always has a smile for the caregivers. But the past few days have been very hard for me. I am in tears as I'm driving away. I miss him so terribly. Why is this happening all of a sudden?

[Anonymous]

I don't know about you, but it goes in cycles for me. I just spent a week at the beach with my son and husband, and missed my son terribly when dropping him back in day care yesterday. If nothing has changed at day care, is anything else different in your life right now? Even just more job stress? Maybe you can take some half days or somthing this summer and have some Mommy and Kid time together -- that could help a lot.

[Anonymous]

What else is going on in your life? Are you having a tough time at work, stress in your marriage or other family stress? Can you take a few days off to spend some time with your baby this month? That might help. Also, can DH help with drop off?

[Anonymous]

OP here. I think it's DS's age. I've been reflecting on the past year, how much he has changed, and what I've missed while at work.

I love my parents. We have a good relationship. They're always there to help when I need them, but we're not exactly close. We don't have a lot in common, and I think sometimes we find it difficult to find things to talk about, so we rehash the same topics. We love each other, but seems there's always a wall between us. Anyway, I guess I feel like the older DS gets, maybe the more strained or distant our relationship may become. Does this sounds ridiculous given he's only 1 year old and I'm already worrying about what kind of relationship we'll have when he's an adult?

I am weepy while writing this - what's WRONG with me?

[Anonymous]

Pregnant?

[Anonymous]

agree, I think OP is pregnant! I thought that immediately.

[Anonymous]

I got very very weepy around my son's first birthday (and I was not pregnant). They just change so much in the first year and the first b-day is kind of the day they become "toddlers" versus "babies". I found it to be very emotional.

[Anonymous]

I think it gets a little harder to leave them as they get older and start doing more interesting things. You realize that you're missing more than you were when your baby just sat around all day and alternated eating, sleeping and pooping.

That said, I just spent 5 days hanging with my 20-month DD almost nonstop (vacation) and I was pretty happy to drop her off this morning. I need some non-mom time, no matter how cute she is!