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5 year old daughter with sudden separation anxiety

3 replies

Sgd2310 · 12/09/2013 21:26

Hi. New to mumsnet and hoping all you lovely mums will understand and give some advice. My 5 year old daughter has always been a happy, cheeky, funny little girl. She has always had a sensitive side and almost hides it. The recent school holidays of 7 weeks long means we have been together constantly. On a recent holiday she wanted to go to the kids club with my 8 year old daughter. My husband went to collect them after 1 hour and my 5 year of made a friend and wanted to stay. My husband left her playing happily. I thought it was strange she would stay without her sister and 15 mins later went back to check on her. She was distraught at being left. Since then she won't go to bed at night thinking we will leave her alone in the house, wakes up 3-4 times a night to check where I am. Screams if she doesn't know where I am in the house. She returned to school on Tuesday and needless to say this has not been a good experience. The teachers are shocked at how she is screaming for me at drop off and how withdrawn she is. She is also saying some very upsetting things like we hate her and if I ask her to eat nicely she says do you want to choke? It's so upsetting. I have tried being very patient and reassuring her as much as I can but with nearly 3 weeks of sleep depravation I starting to snap at her. Sorry if this is waffling on but getting desperate.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
JacqueslePeacock · 13/09/2013 13:30

That sounds awful for you and your DD. Could anything have happened to her at the kids' club in those 15 minutes? Have you tried asking her? I can't think of any way if handling it other than providing lots of love and reassurance, as I'm sure you are already.

Kelly232a · 25/09/2013 23:52

Your be relieved to hear your not alone on this. My daughters also 5 and has been quite clingy and or totally freaks out at the thought of me collecting my post from downstairs without her. This got much worse just before the end of the summer holidays. She now refuses to eat at school.

Sadly I can't offer any help as we are still going through it but wouldlove to hear if you find a solution.

This story has helped my daughter so maybe give it ago

The Worry Glasses (over coming anxiety) by Donalisa Helsley

Goldmandra · 26/09/2013 10:14

Could anything have happened to her at the kids' club in those 15 minutes?

My first thought too.

Does she get upset at all if you talk about the holiday or her time in the kids club?

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