Missing Daddy

Samantha has really started struggling with missing her Daddy lately. 2 weeks ago, she refused to say bye to him or even acknowledge that he was leaving. Apparantly she thought that if she didn't say bye, he wouldn't be leaving.

This past Sunday, everything was fine when he left. She gave him hugs and kisses and told him bye-bye.

But at 4:30 on Monday morning, she woke up crying. I went in to comfort her and she cried harder. I wasn't completely sure she was awake, so I spoke to her and told her that I couldn't understand what she was saying and asked what she needed. She sobbed, "I need my Daddy!" I told her that Daddy is at work and it will be a few more days before he is back home. She said "Go away Mommy!" I said OK, I will go back to my room and she sobbed "No!!"

So I stayed with her. She started getting close to hysterical and was screaming...I'm sure her thoat was hurting before it was all said and done. Then, in addition to just screaming wordlessly, she started screaming "Mommy go bye-bye!" then sobbed and said it all over again. And again and again and again.

I'm not sure if she was afraid that I was going to go bye-bye, or if she was telling me to go, thinking that if I went bye-bye, she would have Daddy back. Either way, it broke my heart. I kept holding her and told her over and over and over. Mommy is not going bye-bye. I am staying right here with you. I am taking care of you. I am not going bye-bye.

She finally exhausted herself so much that she fell asleep with little shuddering breaths. And then all was calm. I am so glad that her Daddy will be home with us tonight and we will not have to say good-bye again for a good long while. And that when we do have to say good-bye again, it will not be very often. And definitely not for 6 weeks in a row.