As the pandemic comes to a close, parents are starting to feel separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is something that is commonly seen in children when they go to daycare or school for the first time, and it is something that would be “expected” of them as the pandemic ends and they have to get used to not being around their parents all the time. However, COVID-19 has changed many things over the last year and children may struggle with a return to normal life, but not many would expect parents to struggle as well.

According to NBC News and Daily Advent, as children start to leave the house for playdates, sports, and activities, parents are starting to feel separation anxiety. Most would assume that parents would be happy that their children are able to do some of the things they enjoy again and that they can get a break, but it is turning out to be the opposite.

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Aurelie Azoug is a mom who like many others, had gotten really used to having her children around all the time. She had been working from home and their children had both been home with them. While this has had its struggles, the world is changing. Aurelie has returned to her office and she stated that everything now just feels quiet and empty.

She said that she is now feeling separation anxiety and it is not what she was expecting. She thought she would feel glad to be back in the office, because crying and yelling were not distracting her, but she is facing something a lot of families have to face and that is getting used to not spending so much time together. Parents are finding themselves wondering about their children when they are not with them and how they are doing.

Erlanger Turner is a child psychologist and he said that while this is normal, parents have to be mindful about projecting this onto their children. With the pandemic ending, children are going to be watching cues from parents about how to return to normal life and how they should cope and navigate this new world again. It is important to make sure that we are not causing them more worry and anxiety. He also said that this separation anxiety is temporary and that it will just take some time to get used to being apart from our children again.

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Sources: NBC News, Daily Advent