separation anxiety

poor monkey seems to be going thru an age-appropriate developmental thingo at present. all three days this week when i have dropped her at day care she has cried and wailed not to be left without me. she hasn't done this in months and months. it's really awful.

we arrive happily enough; go thru the ritual of putting the stroller away, putting raffles on her bed, putting her bag in her locker and then sitting down for some second breakfast.
on monday as i was walking out the door after saying good bye and getting kisses from her, she started to cry. the staff stepped in and comforted her quickly. when i rang a half hour later they said she had calmed down quickly and eaten her breakfast.
yesterday was the same except the tears started as i was saying goodbye next to her little chair at the breakfast table.
today she didn't even sit long enough to get any food in front of her. as soon as she sat down she slid off and wrapped herself around my legs, crying plaintively.
of course when i insist on leaving the crying becomes screaming and twisting her body about to be let down so she can chase after me. luckily her teachers are adept at helping her cope at these times and distract her with stories or activities with the other children.

still i feel awful. i want to insist to paul that one of us doesn't work at least every one of the week days so that she can stay with us. that's a pipe dream...

separation anxiety, i have read, often kicks in around this age because toddlers are getting more capable of exploring their world on their own, braver and bigger, but still require a secure base they can come back to, and lots of reassurance that it's all okay.
this could also explain why this week and a little last week, while her bedtime routine is the same and she happily goes to bed, as soon as we get up and walk out the door she starts to cry for us. some nights she'll drop off to sleep on her own anyways, other nites, like last nite, i rubbed her back and "shooshed" her for about ten minutes.

i feel so sorry for her that she doesn't feel brave and strong all the time. it's overwhelming to be little and not in control. poor chooken, as i've started calling her.