My 6 Year Old Doesn't Want to Leave My Side, EVER!

I wonder if something happened to one of her friends moms. It does sound like anxiety, I have it too. One of my friends dad died in grade school, he went on a hunting trip and had a heart attack and died in the woods. My father also went hunting and everytime he did, it would make me sick.. I still worry about him to this day. But, then again, I am diagnosed with anxiety. I think you might want to talk to someone. Shes going to make herself sick over this. Poor baby. :(

Mom, this behavior seems unusual at this age. I would go in an talk privately with a school counselor asap to see what they recommend but you need to make your daughter go bk to school each day and not get the upper hand here. I would probably look into some counseling with a good child psycholgist if the couselor at school recommends this and also read some parenting books on separation anxiety too. In the mean time maybe you can set up some play dates with school friends after school so your daughter becomes more comfortable at school with friends around and without you there. I would talk to her calmly more and assure here that you will always be there after school to pick her up and miss her too when she is at school but part of being a big girl is going to school and she needs to get used to it. You may want to send a family photo to school with her to keep in her backpack to look at if she gets lonely and misses you. Also talk with her classroom teacher to see what suggestions she has too after you talk with the guidance counselor. Maybe it would be a good idea to talk with them together but with out your daughter present. Good luck with this Mom.

When I was in 4th grade my dad had a stroke. He was mostly fine, and I mostly didn't know what was going on, but I started having panic attacks at school where I just _had_ to come home. It was awful. Is there anything going on in her life that you think she's not really aware of? Maybe she is aware on some level. But some people just have panic attacks. They are really really awful; a lot of people become afraid to leave their houses because they don't want to have panic attack in front of anyone. You might feel like "home" to her.

Anyway, not sure if this makes sense, but just wanted to toss it out there.

Good luck

I remember reading once that a kid needs to know that YOU are OK with her being away from you and that you WANT her to be happy and have fun at school. I know you want her to go and be happy but have you specifically told her that? Do you experience/display anxiety/dread/sadness at the drop off? Just thought I'd pass that on as a bit of a different angle.

Hi CM, I am taking a good guess from what you're saying...it sounds like she may have either read a book, or seen a video, or talked to a classmate, and learned about another mommy who either got very sick or passed away, something traumatic. It can really make a child cling tightly to the parent. She might be afraid it will happen to you, the poor little thing! Because you also mentioned it happens at bedtime routine, I think her fear is when SHE CAN'T SEE YOU and be sure you're ok.

Does the teacher have mystery reader day, when you can come in and surprise her? At my 7 year old son's school, mystery reader, usually parent or close relative, comes in at the end of the day to read a picture book, and after the story is over it's dismissal and parent takes their own child home. That would be great in your case especially so you don't have to say goodbye a second time! Maybe you can chaperone a trip?

Ask the teacher if there is someone in the class with a family situation like I described, or if there's a book or video program she might have seen. She might need help in realizing fiction is fiction, and in knowing you take really good care of yourself so that you are as safe as you can possibly be!

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