Will my daughter forget me in 1-2 weeks?

[Siana1990]

Hi
I have a 12 month old daughter, due to my own poor mental health being in a bad episode (bipolar) I thought it was best for her to send her to her dads Saturday. I live in the South he lives up North, his mum/him are looking after her whilst shes there.

She has terrible stranger anxiety, when she saw his mum she burst in to tears as she does with mostly everyone she doesn't have daily contact with. She also gets upset when separated from me.

I am hopefully going to pick her up on Wednesday so she would have been away from me 11 days.

I am terrified she is going to forget me. I am terrified that she will come back and won't know who I am or we won't have the same bond or she will want her dad/nan and not me. Im so scared that she won't even know who I am anymore and we will never be able to get that bond back again. My anxiety is perhaps through the roof but I need some reassuring. Particularly from people that have maybe left their babies and gone on holiday/away without them? Im just so scared, I feel so upset and guilty, but I know this is whats best for her whilst I feel like this.

I left my child for a week when she was 9 months old and she jumped into my arms when I returned.

Take the break - you need and deserve it. It will make a huge difference to you, you will come back refreshed and ready for it.

Dont worry your little one wont forget you . She may be a little unsettled by the changes but she will soon settle down again.
I hope you feel better soon hon x

She won't forget you, I promise. Does she know her dad well and have a good bond with him? If so she won't be traumatised. She'll probably miss you lots and be very pleased to see you when you pick her up.

No she'll remember you. I was separated from my Mum for a much longer time when I was that age as she was hospitalised. Made fuck all difference tbh. I adored her just as much afterwards and it really had no effect on me. I was fairly oblivious of the passage of time.

She definitely won't forget you! You've done a very courageous thing by accepting that there was a problem and allowing others to help. I hope you're starting to feel better - don't let guilt stand in the way of you getting well.
You might find that your daughter is a bit unsettled when you get her home but this will only be due to a change in routine. Give it a few days and she'll settle back in.
I had to leave my son when he was very young as I had to be in hospital for a week. It couldn't be helped and he was just fine (although I felt awful about it at the time)

She won't have forgotten you. She may be unsettled / confused at first but don't let that upset you. My ds used to cry every time I arrived to pick him up nursery as he found it a but overwhelming.

She will NOT forget you. Not for a second. She will be just fine.

She won't forget you. And can I just say, I hope I don't sound patronising, but you've done amazingly and are so brave to have made this decision which will benefit you both in the long run. It's so, so difficult sometimes to reach out for that kind of thing, but you've done it, you're amazing.