My son is having a tough time understanding that Mommy has to work. I work at the same place he goes to day care. His teacher doesn't understand how hard it is to be Mom and teacher at the same time. Since then his behaivor has gotten worse. He is showing signs of anxiety and aggresion while at day care. Is my working there causeing this? His teacher has no kids of her own and doesn't understand why he gets upset and why I get upset. Am I causeing more harm then good?

You've presented an interesting scenario. Please answer a few questions to help us understand better.

Are you usually or often in the same area/room he is? Are you his teacher most of the time? Does he demand that you be with him all the time? What signs is he showing of anxiety and aggression?

We share an outside time and are combined in mornings and evenings. He has always had a hard time leaving me but worse since he has turned 2. He hits the other children but more so when I am around. He is very anxious and possive of cars.

Please don't answer in the comment question, no one really reads those and you are not suppose to be doing that

Please come back and post an answer to your own question with the information in it please

Chuck, moderator

I'll repost your very important comment here. It should be part of the thread, not embedded in my post --


CJSMommy : We share an outside time and are combined in mornings and evenings. He has always had a hard time leaving me but worse since he has turned 2. He hits the other children but more so when I am around. He is very anxious and possive of cars.

You're HIS mommy, and he sees you interacting happily with other children who don't live at your house. He's supposed to be the center of your world, and gets jealous when he realizes he's not. It's very confusing for him, so he lashes out in various ways. He can't possess you, so he hangs on to cars and trucks. He has to share you, but he doesn't have to share cars and trucks.

How should you handle this?

First, you must keep a cheerful, no-nonsense attitude at all times. If he cries, you must allow another worker to matter-of-factly divert him by playing with something -- building a garage for the cars or reading to him, perhaps moving him out of your line of sight. He shouldn't be punished in any way, just diverted. If you come to his rescue, then he will begin to expect that and will put up a fuss so you come running every time he whimpers. Don't give into this.

How many children are at this daycare? What is the age range? Are they divided into groups -- infants, babies, toddlers, older kids? What teaching goes on there? Do you have other children of your own, or is he your only one?

You are well named