As if it weren't bad enough ...

that I'm due to return back to work in 2 weeks. I've been busy preparing myself & the baby. Getting her things ready, making sure I have what she'll need when she's away
from me ... having a total anxiety attack .. to the point where I'm crying in BBB last night w/my best friend while I'm buying a swing.

For the last week or so, Maria has been getting crankier & crankier. I'm not sure if its teeth, or gas, but sometimes I feel like it's getting worse. When I'm with her its hard enough, but when I'm not here ... she's miserable.

Tonight I went shopping for clothing w/ mom & was gone for about 2 hours. When I got home I could hear her crying from outside the door. Vinnie tells me that she's been on & off crying since I left. And she's been like this lately with my mom & my sister when they've had to watch her. So what's it going to be like for her while I'm gone for 7 hours during the day?

Its breaking my heart. I don't know how I'm going to leave her knowing that she's like this.

Just wanna give you some

thanks ... we'll need all we can get right now.

I am sure she will be fine. Babies go through 'mommy' stages and she is probably just in one of them right now! Sorry to hear that you have to go back to work soon!

christine I have no words of wisdom because this would just kill me.


Maybe you can ask your pediatrician for some advice? I am so sorry..you must be dreading this so much...

COME ON little baby! Make it ok for Mommy to go to work and make the money!!!!!

Oh no... this must be breaking your heart. I'm so sorry and I hope Maria returns to her sunny self before you have to leave her.

Oh Christine ... my heart is breaking for you. Just think ... you are going back to work for Maria.

It must be so hard ... I only have lots of hugs for you ...

Christine do you plan on taking Maria to Day Care before she actually starts?

If not I would recommend bringing her there a few times before her actual first day there.

The first couple of times you should sit with her in the classroom and let her get used to it.

Then progress to standing out in the hallway so she can be there without you.

Then maybe leave her there for a couple of hours, go shopping or something.

This will make a world of difference I promise you

I try to get every new parent at my center to do this

Stacey-Christine is having a babysitter take care of Maria.

Just wanted to offer you hugs Christine. I know you will both get through this.

Oh my bad

well then can you have the babysitter come over before you start working?

AWE, Christine
Sending you lots of hugs....

I know its hard, but maybe you can continue to do these 'shopping outings' or maybe even longer, without her another once or twice in the next two weeks, to get both of you adjusted to the separation so it wont be so drastic when its the first day.

BIG HUGS

going back to work stinks. From what other women have told me the first week is really hard and you just have to get thru it. I have read in many books that your first week back should be a short week- maybe ask your boss to work only until Thurs or leave work at 3pm each day- just to start getting into the swing of things.

I start back on Monday and even though Molly will only be at daycare once a week it is still really upsetting me to think that she will be away from me for 9 hours. So I am with you on this! I know that I have to work and just have to remember that. But I still think it stinks.

My son went through that when I want back to work and they get over it and so do we !

It is heard though and a lot of crying happens for you and the baby!!

Just want to give you some

Thanks. Going back to work is a necessity & even though we might have been able to afford more time off, I didn't request it in time, so I'm stuck now.

Good news is that the bell rings at 3:00 and I'll be in my car at 3:05 fighting with the kids to get out of the parking lot! But, its still a long day for her if she's this upset.

She'd been doing really well with strangers up until this point. I always let people hold her so I never expected a 'mommy' phase this early! What terrible timing. I feel terrible that it has to happen now.

I did make a phone call to my sitter to make arrangements to bring her over next week for a little while. And I'm not starting back the following week until Wed which is good. I was thinking the same thing about a short week. Hopefully, it won't be too bad for her ...

Awww Christine - to you both! It is sooo hard to leave her, but just think how great it will feel when you see her after school. As you already know, you are doing what is best for her - it doesn't make it any easier, I know. Lots of

I thought you could use some of these...