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Kelly Nelson

Separation Anxiety: It's Worse When They're Older
June 17, 2008

One thing no one ever told me before I got pregnant was that some day, every baby grows up and turns into a tween, teen, and then adult. Yesterday my daughter left for church camp in the north Georgia mountains. She'll be gone five days, four nights. I miss her so much I can't stand it.

The way I miss her now, though, is different than the way I missed her when she was a baby. Now I worry that she's off with other tween girls giggling about boys and adolescent life. I'm not okay with that. At what point did I say it was okay for my daughter to join a pack of girls and stalk boys like prey? I am pretty sure that she was in diapers yesterday and should still be disgusted by boys. It's as if I'm losing my grip on my little girl. I know that is just the way things go but I don't like it... not one bit.

I know the baby industry. In the baby industry there is pretty much a product for everything. Special blankets, creams, toys... the solutions out number the problems. So what product is there that can save a mom from the ups and downs of having a tween daughter? (Insert joke about vodka and Valium here.) It pains me to see blissfully ignorant parents of infants because I see the freight train that is headed their way! So if you're thinking of having children, watch out there's a teenager down that road!

As for my separation anxiety, I don't see hope of improvement any time soon.

Posted by Kelly Nelson on June 17, 2008 | Comments (2)

June 18, 2008
In response to: Separation Anxiety: It's Worse When They're Older
Lisa Casinger commented:

Oh Kelly, I wish I could tell you it's going to get better, but it's not. Though I was not the blubbering fool I thought I'd be, I was still overwhelmed when my daughter graduated 5th grade a couple of weeks ago. This means middle school in the fall. She too wants to travel w/ the pack and it scares me to DEATH. These times are bittersweet (something I never truly understood before) because while you hate to see your "baby" become their own person, it also fills you with pride and hope for the future. New parents have NO idea 1) how quickly those sleepless baby days will fly by and 2) that those really aren't the most difficult times.

June 18, 2008
In response to: Separation Anxiety: It's Worse When They're Older
Kelly Nelson commented:

I don't even want to think about my daughter going into middle school!!! (Ignorance really is bliss, isn't it!?!) I suppose, for all parents, we have to enjoy the moment and train them to be the best they can. You're right about the pride, too, though. Mine really does make me proud when she's out with others and I can only pray that I've given and am giving her the tools she needs to continue to make me proud. I just know what mistakes I made and I know that there will be days that are more bitter, less sweet. Hang in there, girl! We're not alone!