Please could I get some advice. I am a very anxious parent- I am seeing a psychologist for this- but I am struggling to strike an old balance and so wanted to get some advice.
We went on a play date with my daughter’s preschool friend at her house. We were in the garden. There were another two mums there also. As the kids settled and played, we all sat down. I normally watch my daughter like a hawk and she is always in the same room as me. If I can’t see her, I will always pop my head around the corner very regularly to make sure she is ok. At the play date, my back was towards my daughter and I was talking to the other parents. I was conscious of the fact I hadn’t turned around to make sure she was ok, but did notice one of the parents glancing over my shoulder so I decided to not turn around. I perhaps didn’t check on her for over a minute or so and now- for some part of that, I could see her t shirt out of the corner of my eye as she was running around the small kids table and chairs set. I feel really guilty that she may have put something in her mouth- she has just turned there or she may have done something silly/ dangerous. I think that at least one of the mums would have said something but I suppose you never know. They also went down the side of the garden, and as they didn’t come back after a few seconds I got up and went. Not everyone saw this. I didn’t even think about the fact it was a side access otherwise I would have gone straightaway, and now I keep thinking what if the gate had been open and she had run onto the main road.
It was a residential garden and the mum is very sensible, but I am just struggling with finding the right balance. If I don’t watch her like a hawk I feel guilty. If I do, I end up spending the whole time with her and not speaking to the other mums, which I know isn’t the most important thing, but I am sometimes conscious of coming across as odd- which again I don’t really care about it as my priority will always be to keep my daughter safe but I know I need to strike a balance.
Please be kind, this is hard enough as it is. If you have nothing constructive to say, please kee your comment to yourself.