Behind the Curtain: A Baby Separation Anxiety Story During Mommy’s Shower Time

Mommy did her usual disappearing thing again today, the one that happens during her mom shower challenges. She was right beside me, and then suddenly… not. I could still sense her nearby, but my little Peachy tummy still did a tiny flip of baby separation anxiety when she slipped out of sight. I don’t know why Mommy has to go hide for a minute, but every time she does, my brain fills with questions.

There is a most bizarre room in Mommy’s bathroom. It’s the tiniest room I’ve ever seen. Even smaller than the closet I discovered! It doesn’t even have a door. To get into this tiny room, all you have to do is pull back a curtain.

I’ve never been inside this room before, but it’s so small that I don’t see anything worth exploring in there. But the existence of a tiny room tucked away in a bathroom isn’t so strange. What is mind-boggling, is that every once in a while Mommy goes into this room, closes the curtain, and stands there for a while. What is she doing in there?

I have only seen Mommy go into the strange little room when the two of us are home alone. Is she hiding something? She is certainly not hiding it from me. Every time Mommy goes into the tiny room, she brings me into the bathroom with her.

When I see Mommy rolling my old bassinet into the bathroom, I know she will be going into the little room again. She puts me in there and parks me right outside the little room. Then she goes in and pulls the curtain closed. If that wasn’t strange enough, most of the time that Mommy is in the tiny room, I swear that I can hear the sound of running water.

Baby Separation Anxiety Strategies

While I wait for Mommy to come back out again, I watch the shadows on the curtain, or I play with the toys Mommy left for me in the bassinet. Sometimes I get impatient and I fuss. That makes Mommy pop her head out from behind the curtain. It makes me feel better when I can see Mommy, but then she pulls her head back in and I can’t see her again.

If I can’t see Mommy, I’m not sure if she’s still there. If I start thinking about that, I get worried and I whine a little. Mommy talks to me from behind the curtain and that helps a bit. Sometimes Mommy sings to me and I like that. It helps the time go by faster while I wait for Mommy to come back from the little room. My favorite is the Peach-a-dee song.

You’re my peach-a-dee
Cutest little peach that I ever did see.
My peach-a-dee, my peach-a-dee
You’re my peach-a-dee
Sweetest little peach there ever could be.
My peach-a-dee, my peach-a-dee
My little peach-a-dee

When Mommy finally comes back out, everything feels right again and my little world makes sense. I know she always returns, but while she’s in there having her mom shower challenges, my tiny heart still gets those fluttery baby separation anxiety feelings. I guess that’s just what happens when you love someone so much you want to see them all the time. Maybe one day I’ll understand why Mommy goes behind that curtain, but for now, I’m just happy when she scoops me up again.