Separation Anxiety

For babies, separation anxiety is common beginning around 9-12 months. Most people have heard of this - babies simply don't like being parted from mommy and daddy. Will does alright with this so far. He goes to a babysitter with other children and Craig and I both work full time jobs. So he's been in the care of others. He also generally doesn't mind "strangers" or being held by new people.

But what about separation anxiety for parents? Is there ever an age when this isn't difficult the first (and any) time it happens?

I was anxious the entire time I was away from my baby for the first few months of his life. Going on a "date" with my husband, going out to dinner with friends, going to get my hair cut... I always watched the clock, wondered how he was doing, and looked forward to being back in his presence. I balled the whole drive to work on my first day back - 11.5 hours apart from him! After awhile, separation became easier and now my work days are shorter too...

But I've never had to be away from him overnight, let alone two. This weekend, Craig & I are driving up to Traverse City, MI for a relaxing stay in a large, rented house with my sister-in-law and about 16 of her closest friends. My sister-in-law Kelly is getting married this October and this trip is in lieu of a bachelor/bachelorette party. We leave tomorrow at 8 a.m. and return sometime Sunday. We're planning shopping, wineries, golfing for the guys, cooking out, eating out, etc. It should be a great trip and I'm looking forward to sleeping past 7 a.m. for the first time in over a year. But, at the same time, I'm sad and a little anxious to be leaving Will for over 48 hours. My sister and brother-in-law are coming to stay with him at our house this weekend so he can sleep in his own bed and be in his own surroundings. So that's comforting to me. And I know he (and I) will be fine.

Still, it isn't easy.