Mom Needs A Break! Tips, Ideas, Help….For Those Hard Working Moms!

Separation anxiety affects both children and adults in very different ways. While children experience fear they will never see mom again; mom develops an overwhelming feeling of guilt.  With pre-school becoming more prevalent today; there is bound to be conflict for both mom and child.  Let us, then, explore child separation anxiety, and tips to help mom cope with leaving baby in the later stages of infancy. 

It’s important for you, as a mom, to refrain from showing your own insecurities. If you keep a positive attitude, your child will feel calm and reassured. Ask your sister to come to your home to care for your infant frequently; this allows your baby to become familiar with another caretaker and feel safe.  As your baby grows into a toddler, use this same practice. You will soon find your child will readily accept visits from your sister; giving you sufficient time to run errands, and complete all of the tasks you have been neglecting.In addition, you will have piece of mind knowing a responsible family member taking care of your child. 

Keep in mind, a child may not always feel comfortable watching you leave the home. It is important to reassure the child you are returning. Don’t give a specific time; children tend to focus too much on the clock and worry.  Call your child often; letting him or her know where you are.  This may be considered over the top coddling; nonetheless, comforting your child also comforts the child within you. The conversation you have with the child is primarily for you. It is a way of acknowledging your feelings; a reassurance that everything is fine. 

Think of how you felt when you were a child.  What did your mom do or say to you to ease the pain of separation. Although times were different back; there may have been one or two occasions when she didn’t have a choice; having another baby, for example.  Recognizing the symptoms of your own anxiety can help you to avoid imprinting it onto your child. 

Congratulate me or empathize with me. It’s your choice. I have just graduated to one of THOSE parents. You know the ones, where we line up with hundreds of other parents at any electronic/gaming store that we can think of in the hopes of getting our hands on one of the latest hottest releases just so we can see the smile that we all think is the most beautiful sight in the world? I am a mom that has spent the last 2 weeks since the release of the Nintendo Wii trying desperately to get my hands on a system all because my son’s happiness is the most important possession I have.

However, to my disappointment and aggravation, I cannot even get close to a system. I am being forced to wait in line outside a Best Buy, Future Shop, EB Games, or Toys R Us just to find out that each store has only been shipped 20 or so units and there are 30 people in front of me in the line. When Microsoft released Windows, did they only release limited quantities? No. Why not? Well, we all know why. And we also know why Nintendo and Playstation only ship a few units a week to each of their retailers. Marketing………………Supply/Demand! Well, the same technique works year after year and year. Why are these 2 massive technological giants creating such mayhem around the globe? Why do they feel the need to see people trample each other, punch each other, scream and curse at each other? Why do they get the gaming society and the parents of the gaming kids into a state of chaos? Is it really because of marketing? That’s pathetic!  It is quite clear that Sony, Nintendo, & Microsoft all have room in the market so why make people crazy? Why make me crazy??

Why have I let Nintendo get me to a point of feeling like a failure with my child if I don’t produce the latest greatest thing? The funny thing is, my son hasn’t even asked for a Wii! He asked for a video game system. HA!HA! I’m killing myself over this. It’s not fair! I don’t need to read how many systems have been sold since the release! We need to see stock on the shelves! These gaming systems are in planning & manufacturing well over a year in advance. Plenty of time to complete the systems and keep the retailers well stocked. So why are there hundreds, thousands of people dying to get their hands on just one unit? Because it’s the latest craze! That’s all it is. After the holidays, there will be tons available to purchase. We won’t have to pay $10K on EBay for a Playstation unit or triple the price for a Wii because some guys shoed up at Wal-Mart at 5am on November 19^th to buy 5 units just to sell on EBay to make a big buck. He doesn’t have any kids!!! Why did he get to buy 5 units??? How come I cannot walk into any store and buy 1 unit for my son and put it under the tree this holiday season?

Hats off to you big gaming corporations! Congratulations to your success once again in making parents and people of the globe scramble to get a piece of the latest gaming technology.

As for my son, he will get some really awesome gifts this holiday season and there will not be a Wii or a Playstation. No way. I give up! I refuse to go any further down that crazy path. Maybe I can get him one for Valentine’s Day?! I will keep my sanity and my bank account in check. Just my thought!

Keep smiling!

Kerry