Hey ladies, I've been MIA for a few weeks. Anywho, DD is going through some crazy separation anxetiy right now. She cries and screams unless I'm holding her. If she even sees me in another room she walks over and starts crying if I don't pick her up immediately. I love her to bits, but I also have to get things done. This morning I hid in the bathroom for 10 minutes just to get a bit of peace before work **hangs head in shame**.
Are we still in the "you can't spoil a baby phase"? Or am I just reinforcing her whining? This will get better, right??
Re: separation anxiety
Or if I've got like raw chicken on my hands, I tell him I can't pick him up right now and explain why (have to stir this, hands are dirty, whatever) but I will in a minute and I go back to him even if he's done crying. Just so he knows I mean what I say, you know? I don't think they can be spoiled right now. I don't drop everything just because he makes a peep, but if I can manage to go to him or pick him up and continue what I'm doing and explain that we have to abc because xyz, I do (even if it's something like we have to sweep so the house stays clean). And hopefully as he gets older and understands more and more, he'll get the concept of waiting for a minute when he has to.
Certain things are off limits. He does not get to come to the bathroom with mama. I shut the door and he whines on the other side. He usually is playing in the living room when I come out. He knows how to entertain himself he just has to be forced to do it sometimes.
When I'm vacuuming, doing the dishes, folding laundry I try to tell him I need his help and give him a broom or towels so that he feels involved. He is a toddler now and has to learn that something's can't just be stopped because that's what he wants. As soon as I am done, even if he was whining the whole time, I say thank you for waiting now mom can play. I know he understands "wait" because the other day DH was trying to get his farm clothes off before picking up DS and DS stood at his feet and signed wait until DH had gotten changed.
I don't think they can be spoiled yet but I also don't think dropping everything to do what he wants is healthy either. We have tried to find a happy medium in involvement and patience then attention.