How can we prevent crying when a parent leaves for work?

Question

Sometimes a parent (usually Dad) spends time with the child before leaving for work.

However, after leaving, sometimes, the child cries nonstop (1 to 2 hours). Everything you offer during this period is refused, and there is a fixation on (whoever left).

What are some ways to handle this situation, knowing that favorite toys (even new, stocked up toys) etc are refused?

Is it better for Daddy to leave in the morning without being seen?

Answer 1

Part of your job as a parent is to introduce realistic expectations for your child when the world does certain things. Mommy, Daddy or both will probably need to be inaccessible for protracted amounts of time in order to work, even if one or both don't leave the house to do so. I kind of think 'vanishing' dodges that, at any age .. but we all lose idealism when our kids get really upset.

Depending on the age of your child, books like this one can help a bit, but what works the best (if your child has reached the age of conversation) is not excusing your absence, but explaining it. Turn on a light switch, for instance and explain that if you don't go to work, the light might not work for very long. Take out a box of pancake mix, make some and explain that if you did not go to work, there might not be so many pancakes. Then involve your child and let them come up with ways to help you go to work, or vanish in your home office for hours.

The trick is not to instill some sort of trepidation in the child, they should not be worrying about your job, so take special care to discuss work related hiccups when your child is not around. Make it a positive thing. Tell your child how what you do makes something better, talk about your work friends, bring home random office supplies as gifts and make it a point to introduce 'special' events when things go well at work.

Again, this depends entirely on the age of your child, but I'm quite sure bits of it could be adapted to fit your current problem :)

Answer 2

First of all, do not sneak off. I simply cannot stress this enough. I may sound 'sky is falling' but it's absolutely true that doing so regularly could lead to abandonment issues. You have to say bye, and he has to know it's coming and he has to get used to it.

I think the sitter should start with routine. Soon as you're out the door, it's time to start the morning routine. Not food, cuz that's just asking for a mess, but something interactive. Maybe reading, playing with blocks, drawing, whatever. and the sitter should do that REGARDLESS of the kids interaction. if the kid is crying, remind them every minute or so... "come on down from there and lets read this book."

of course, you'll get the arched back and the painful screaming because all they want to do right now is cry. "Daddy's gone to work, he'll be back later. but we have a puzzle here we can work on."

that's my suggestion. none of my kids ever did this, but i've known those that did.

Answer 3

First, it depends on the child's age and maturity. I think the parent can preper the child for what is about to happen by narrating the near future in a way the child can understand. for instance: "mommy will play with you now, and then mommy will give you a big hug and three kisses and will go. you will stay with daddy, and when it is dark outside mommy will come back"

it is important to follow the narration as closely as possible, and to keep reminding the child what's coming up next. e.g "now I go, I will come back when it is dark outside".

when children know what is going to happen they become more secure and less anxious.

Answer 4

Separation anxiety in children is a function of our culture. In other societies where the child is raised within a large group, and care is often passed on from one family member to another, the child rarely reacts to the absence of a parent. It's a fairly easy Google search to find many anthropological studies that reflect this.

The lesson we can draw from other cultures is the value of introducing your child to many other people. You can setup play dates for times when daddy is not home, or go out for a different social activity. This way you can allow the child to view the father going off to work not as a scary loss, but an opportunity for increased interactions.