Separation Anxiety - Letting Go on His First Day at School

You've stayed home, taking care of him for the first five years of his life. Now the time has come to watch your little bundle of joy go off to school.

Young children are very exited to go off to school. You've talked about it to him for almost a year, preparing him for the first day.

The morning of the big day arrives. Everyone in the house is excited, running around, getting ready. All is well until that moment when you must let go of his hand so he can enter the bus and it hits both of you.

The tears begin to fall as you watch your child wiping his own tears, holding onto the window of the school bus. You smile, a trembling smile, hoping to stop crying. A feeling of emptiness creeps up inside you. How can you allow this to happen to you? Thoughts crossed your mind, thinking about him. Nothing would calm you down.

You decide to go to the school and watch him, making sure he doesn't get lost. As you arrive at school, the bus is there waiting for the teachers to arrive and collect the children. You wonder if he's okay, is he crying? You can't seem to see anything. Is he in the bus?

Taking a deep breath, you begin calming down. Your mind clears up a little, but a feeling of panic is still inside you. The bell rang so loud that your heart began to beat so fast you thought you were having a heart attack.

There he was, getting off the school bus, still wiping his eyes. A teacher walked up to him and took him by the hand and slowly walked towards the school. Wow! This was a day you'll never forget.

Separation anxiety is a normal reaction for both Mother and child. This is the first time that your child is being taken away from his everyday routine with you.

School anxiety affects both Mother and child one-way to deal with this is to be ready in advance for this day. Allow your child to know what will happen that day. Make sure you let him know that this will happen daily, without Mommy or Daddy.

Visit your child's school with your child before the big day, so that your child gets used to the school.

Meeting the child's teacher before is a great way to break the tension.

Even though you've prepared yourself for that first day. it's normal to go through minor separation nervousness. Remember it's not just tough on your child, but for the parents also.

By letting your child know you'll be there after school, as soon as your child see's that, he will feel much more comfortable as time passes by.