Separation Anxiety
June 17, 2010 by Puna
Filed under Horses, Signatures
When I pick up the girl at the farm, I usually sit in my car and text her, “I’m here.”
Since she’s such a big girl now, I don’t stay at the farm with her anymore and thank goodness. I don’t have the time or the patience to stay there for hours…and hours…and hours…
But on this day, I was a little early so I wandered down to the main barn, right smack into Operation Separation. It seems that in order for Limerick to be ridden again, she has to be separated from her baby. It was the first time the girls tried it.
There was a lot of crying on the baby’s part. It literally sounded like a human baby saying, “Mama, mama don’t leave me!” It cuts to the heart of you.
Limerick found it very difficult to walk away. She kept turning around and refusing to go forward.
Finally the girls brought Limerick back to the stall. Kelly girl said they would try it again later that day. I hope it’s not as traumatic as this first time.
It reminded me of the first time we left the boy with a sitter other than his mama-san. Some friends of our insisted we go out to dinner and they would watch him. We were gone exactly one hour. Nothing against our friends and the boy was fine.
But I know how Limerick feels…
I still feel that little twinge of anxiety every time one of my kids leaves to do something without me! What am I going to do in September 2011 when my oldest son goes off to college!
I know how Limerick Feels! I felt it when I left Aaron in Ohio, cried the whole 10 hour trip home, and I will be feeling it when I leave Kaitlin in Maine, lucky for me, it is only an 8 hour trip home.
I remember those days! It was probably a good idea that they only took Limerick a short distance. A few more steps each time and pretty soon she will learn that she gets to return to her baby and she will be okay. (Or okay-ish. We mamas know!)
Oh poor mama and baby! I think we moms understand this, even if she’s a horse and we are not.