Strange Paranoia with Older Son

Oh I get that sometimes too. I think it's guilt : ) This is why I think that: Normally when my daughter went with someone else, even my mom, I was totally at the end of my rope, and thinking "if I don't get a break I am going to go insane!" and then as soon as she was gone I thought "she's so cute. I can't believe that I was so exasperated, what if something terrible happens and I never get to tell her that I love her again!" I sometimes feel the same way after they go to bed after a _long_day.

Don't really have any advice as to how to make it go away, but you're not alone.

my oldest is 5 1/2 and I still have those fears when he leaves to go out with somebody.......I think it's normal

Yes, I sure have. I have a 5 year old son and a year old son. I get nervous when they go near the front door. But, my reason is different. My 5 year old snuck out of the house about a year ago and ever since that time, I've been paranoid. I never imagined anything like this to happen, so now I'm on extra alert all the time. I'm sure that once my boys are of an age where I can buy them a cell phone and they know not to talk to strangers, the fear will go away. We live in a much scarier world nowadays than before too. You love your children, so you have to protect them any way you can. Kudos to you for realizing that. Don't worry, there will come a day when the paranoia will lessen as they get older and you will be glad when they leave:)

so he decided to go shopping by himself!

My boys are 4 and 2, and they have only left us a few times and only with his grandparents or dad, whom I really trust, but also have those fears as well.

I think it's pretty normal. You're still somewhat hormonal and with a baby I think you appreciate the older one in different ways. Strangely a 3 year old becomes a piece of cake when you have a nosy, crawling, needy baby on your hands! ;) I think you just feel normal protectiveness and I also think that your senses are hightened with a new baby. You realize even more how fragile life is and how much you love your children and although you want a break, it's sad to see them go. It really does sound pretty normal, but if you experience any other sadness or other issues, be on the look out for Post Partum symptoms!