As soon as he walked in, he let go of my hand and ran off with his friends without even looking at me. Not a kiss, not a bye, Mommy. I stood there, my heart pounding, hoping he’d notice, but nothing. I left with a strange feeling, somewhere between pride and sadness. I know it’s good that he feels safe, but… what if he’s losing need of me so quickly?
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It’s like one minute they’re clinging to us, and the next they’re off living their best lives without a second glance. It’s amazing that he’s confident and comfortable, but I know it doesn’t make it any easier. That little ache in your heart is so real. 
I had the opposite problem. My kid latched onto my leg like a koala, and I had to pry him off while the daycare teacher distracted him with stickers. I was the one sneaking out the door like a ninja. Wanna trade? Lol, but really, I know it stings when they don’t “need” us like before… but just wait, bedtime snuggles and “Mommy I need you” will be back soon enough!
Wow, this just happened to me too. One day, my daughter cried every morning at drop, off, and now she barely waves goodbye. I’m happy she’s adjusting, but I kinda miss being her whole world. Do you think this independence means they’ll be more confident later on? Or does it come in phases?
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I promise you, he still needs you! Right now, daycare is exciting and new, but he’ll always come back to you for comfort, cuddles, and love. This is just one of those bittersweet moments where we see them grow. And the best part? The next time he does run back for a hug, it’ll mean even more
One thing that helped me was making a small goodbye ritual so I felt connected, even when my son bolted off. We did a quick high, five or secret handshake before he ran in. That way, even if he was excited to see his friends, we still had our moment. Might be worth a try if you’re feeling a little left behind!
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