To feel anxious about DD being away from me?

[smallpinkdinosaur]

DD is almost 3. She has chicken pox so can't go to nursery next week. DH and both work FT and struggling to get the time off next week at short notice, but we've managed between us to cover Wednesday-Friday with a combination of carers leave and annual leave. Anyway, my dad and his wife have offered to look after DD Mon & Tues, so I am taking her there tomorrow afternoon. However my dad and his wife live 120 miles away (just over 2 hrs drive each way). They are the only family support we have so we need to take them up on the offer, but I'm so anxious. It will be 48 hours away from us, and my DD has only ever spent one night away from us (at my dads) and we were close by to her staying in a hotel. I can't be close by this time as I need to work.

She adores my dad and even though she only
Sees him once every 2-3 ish months she runs straight to him shouting "grandad!" and hugs him, which is so lovely. I've explained to her where we are going tomorrow and she's excited to see grandad but I don't think she understands that I wont be staying too. My anxiety is through the roof in case she gets really upset when I need to leave 😟 am I overthinking this?? She will be ok won't she?

Feeling anxious is totally normal but she will be fine.
Just remember she will take her cues from you. So sell this as an exciting adventure with grandad that will be lots of fun. Don’t let her see that you are upset.

There's no point feeling guilty for things you can't help.
If you don't want to leave her at your Dads, then don't. Take more time off work. But if you can't do that, then she has to go somewhere and your Dads is the best possible option.
I know you'll worry about her, but she will be fine. It's best to prepare her for the fact that you won't be staying there too, and be clear about when you will be coming back, even if you think she won't understand.
Is there any chance Dad could come to you?

@DelphiniumBlue My Dad can't come to us unfortunately as my stepmum needs the car for work. I'm sure she will be ok. I've repeated to her a few times that she's staying with nana and grandad and mummy isn't going to be there, she was saying "bye bye mummy, I stay at grandads". So I think she gets it.

She went off with her grandad very happily and I've been sent lots of pictures and videos of her having the time of her life. I only wish I was coping as well with the separation as DD is - starting to struggle now and it's only day 1! 🙁

I don’t think there’s anything unhealthy about DS; on the contrary he’s completely chilled to be left at preschool and nursery and is not bothered in the slightest. But a full day and night may involve him getting up much earlier than PIL typically do, sleeping in a house which isn’t totally familiar to him, not doing his usual activities, not seeing me all day and all night …

He is only three, there’s plenty of time for him to get used to sleeping away.

FGS how did I even do this 🤦🏼‍♀️ I’m so sorry OP! I thought I was posting on my own thread!