*Parent Teacher Conference*

Last night we had parent teacher conference for Makenna.  Her teacher talked about how amazing she was doing in school, how she's excited to learn how to read and is a wonderful student.  She said one word that stuck out to me though, "anxiety".  She said she noticed when they do something that's not in the routine she has a tendency to step back, and gets really quiet.  I noticed her behavior was a little odd, but just thought she was being a typical 4 year old.  She has trouble sleeping and even though we make it fun, she stalls when it's actually time to say goodnight.  She follows me around the house when I'm home and hates to leave my side.  Today she cried for twenty minutes when she realized she didn't have school and was supposed to be with the babysitter all day.  She couldn't handle having her schedule change even just a little.  I didn't realize until that moment when she said those words that she was right.  I did some research online and she had all of the symptoms for separation anxiety.

Common symptoms of separation anxiety disorder: refusals and sickness

Separation anxiety disorder can get in the way of kids’ normal activities. Children with this disorder often:

• Refuse to go to school. A child with separation anxiety disorder may have an unreasonable fear of school, and will do almost anything to stay home.
• Display reluctance to go to sleep. Separation anxiety disorder may make these children insomniacs, either because of the fear of being alone or due to nightmares about separation.
• Complain of physical sickness like a headache or stomachache. At the time of separation, or before, children with separation disorder often complain they feel ill.
• Cling to the caregiver. Children with separation anxiety problems may shadow you around the house or cling to your arm or leg if you attempt to step out.

It made my patience and love for her grow even more once I realized what the problem was.  She wasn't just being a normal "4 year old" she really has bad anxiety, a lot like her dad.  I ordered a book from Amazon that I hope helps her cope with dealing with this. I want to be there for her as much as I can, and know she is safe and loved.