No more cry baby? Are there tears when you leave the house?

It was a mother milestone for me today.

I drove my three girls to my step mother's house. My two oldest girls enjoy it, they're used to it, they love to visit. But this time, my youngest, Elizabeth, looked at me, said, "Bye Mommy." turned on her heel and toddled away.

Wait! Where were the tears? The clinging to my legs? The wailing? The "No Mommy! No Mommy! Need you, Mommy!" The peeling of baby fingers from clothing? When did this happen?

I stood there, speechless, my heart sank, a lump in my throat. I've never experienced this before, at least not at this age. Mary and Emma were the clingy, try to slip out of the house while they're distracted-children. The children I couldn't leave in the church nursery or with a babysitter who wasn't someone they saw regularly. The children who could vomit on cue, just to keep you at home.

I admit that I'm not one to force it when it comes to leaving my children. If they're not ready, we take baby steps. And it's not like they won't go anywhere without me now. They've grown. So have I.

But today, I was a mixture of feelings. I was a little heartbroken. A little proud. A little sad. A little relieved to run my errands alone and streamlined.

It's a really good feeling to know your children have a place to go where they feel safe and comfortable and confident. But I guess I just wasn't prepared for the fact that Elizabeth would feel all those things so soon.

If there were any tears today, they were probably my own.

What about you? Are there tears when you leave the house? Do you have a clingy-babe or turn on their heels toddler?

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Tags: a, day, in, life, mom, of, the, tmfc, tmparenting

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Comment by Laurie Mattaliano on February 11, 2009 at 6:00pm: Mine both say "See Ya Later" - no looking back, "don't let the door hit you on the *&%&", and have since they were babies. When they were younger I thought they were "independent" - I now have figured out that they are social, very social. Not at all the same as "independent" - but it is a quality that serves well in certain situations. They will be dropped off practically anywhere as long as they have a little hope that a human is going to give them some undivided attention!

the start of pre-school did bring on some tears - usually a week or two in (once the social thrill was over) . . . I can't remember who cried harder . . .

Comment by Danie Bell on February 10, 2009 at 9:24am: No way, mine says "Bye mommy, See you later!!" She's all happy to play at school.
She is no way clingy. Sorta had me feel bad there for awhile, but I got over it,
Take Care,
Danie

Comment by Alice Griffin on February 9, 2009 at 11:53pm: We have just enrolled Isabella in a local nursery for a couple of mornings a week. We had to go with her a few times to get her settled in and when we left her the first time for 30 minutes she SCREAMED and had obviously been upset for most of the half an hour! It was so heartbreaking! Each time we left her a little bit longer it got better and now, one week in and when we drop her off she doesn't even look back! To see her interacting so well with other children/adults and clearly having the most amazing time, is brilliant. We feel so proud. We do however simply feel very lucky that we have been able to spend her first two years all together exclusively :-) Great post and welcome back!

Comment by molly balint on February 9, 2009 at 8:37pm: i know! I used to think I couldn't WAIT for the days when I could walk out the door w/o a kid attached to my hip, but now I mourn them arriving too soon! :)

Comment by Lea Curtes-Swenson on February 9, 2009 at 8:35pm: I can SO relate to this, Molly! We complain, but it's a totally different story when they're all, I'm big now, so bye, Mommy! The first time it happened with my youngest, it was like a pint-sized sock in the gut. Owie.

Comment by Kristen Andrews: Featured Contributor of Style on February 9, 2009 at 8:27pm: my son is still in tears when I leave but I am sure that will end soon, he is 3.