Kingsley: Separation Anxiety

Friday 20th February 2015

Well this is new: Kingsley’s first true bout of separation anxiety. I only found out about it when I got home just now. Its 10:30pm. By the time I got home from a friend’s 40th, Erroll was readying himself for a flight, after finally put an exhausted Kingsley down for the night (a good two and a half hours after his usual bed time). Why did it take so long to get our boy to sleep, I asked,, kicking off my heels. As it turns out the little man began wandering from room to room, looking for “Mumma” and not at all being satisfied with the diversions Erroll was providing. He just could not settle.

What completely took Erroll by surprise was Kingsley’s insistence on being carried towards a photo we have hanging in our hallway, which is of me. The little champ must have called out “Mumma” one hundred times  – with each visit to the photo. (Which means a very exhausted Erroll would have paced up and down the hallway at least that many times.)

According to the books, what is at play now is Kingsley’s desire to have some control over his little life. He knows by now that I always return to him – be it a nursery drop off or the odd babysat evening out I enjoy/need. But he would prefer that I stick around (hey, I am fun!!). And because he also knows that fussing, moaning and crying will usually get a reaction from his dad, he gave it his best shot tonight, bless him.

Infant passed out in the family bed after his first session of separation anxiety.

Infant passed out in the family bed after his first session of separation anxiety.

 

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