2 Year-Old Sleeping Late After Parents Go on Vacation

You teach during the day, you're away at night taking classes, and you leave on vacation for days or weeks without her.

Um , you dont see anything wrong with this picture? I'm not quite sure why you think her reaction is strange. She NEEDS you. Quantity time is just as, if not more important than, quality time. The progressive movement would have people think otherwise because it gives them a pass.

With all due respect, you should move her up on your priority list.

It sounds to me like you frightened her rather badly. You can't really go "on vacation" and leave a two year old for even a day or two, because they just don't understand. You can't explain to them that you "will be back soon," because to a two year old, a day or two is FOREVER. They think you've abandoned them, and they don't want to let you out of their sight when they get you back. I suggest that you be very tolerant with her, and try to reassure her that mommy and daddy would never leave her, and next time, take a family vacation.

Sounds like your daughter was a bit traumatized by your absence - it happens. You'll have to ride this out until she is secure again. All you can do is give her LOTS of love and attention and you probably should lengthen your bedtime routine (and start it earlier.)
This too shall pass.

GL

She can now probably sleep since you are home, she was probably worried even for a 2 yr old. Leaving her may have been traumatic for her when you both left her, even with reassurance that you would be back. Did you prepare her for your leaving etc... I bet she will soon go back to her regular sleep pattern once she knows you wont be leaving her for awhile.

Greetings Rhea: 2 year olds can be very unsure of any changes in their lives and with your being gone none of this is abnormal. Being the mother of 5 and the grandmother of several and right now having a active- creative and thrilling ride with a 2 yo.I am seeing that when her parents went away for a weekend it took her weeks to get back to a "normal schedual". She would be awake at 12 am and her folks needed to be up at 4:30 to get ready for work. Just wasn't working well. Our little one wants daddy to sleep by her bed so she feels secure & she is blessed with a daddy that will. Mommy will read to her and play music until dad comesin. All she wants is to be sure that her parents are there and that her world is safe and secure-- not controlling the parents. So be patient and apprecialte that she doesn't have the skills to use words to gether feelings out but her actions are her way of doing it. Our little one is cherished by all of the family nd we'd gladly help is we could but she just needs her parents right now.
So keep as much consistancy as you can esp as yo are gone alot with work in the day and then classes at night and then have to grade papers and do homework yourself ( myhusband was amath teacher)that is alot of hours for a 2 year old to be seperated from her mom. SO think about how busy you are and how the hours fly by and how at 2 the hours don't go by so fast and she needs the reasurrance of security of her family. Good Luck, Nana G

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