Separation Anxiety

Kendra is experiencing major separation anxiety at her day care center. She is definitely one of those kids that just can't easily be dropped off and know that I will return. I stayed home with her the first year of her life, worked full time last year (tried the super mom roll), and this year I am trying a mix of both. You see I am a teacher (as most of you know) and with teaching there is a thing called "getting tenured." This allows you to be a permanent person in the district. That way if you want to take years off to be with your kids, you can, and be guaranteed a spot when you want to return. After taking a year off with Kendra I basically had to resign since I wasn't tenured. When I decided to go back to work I had to start all over (which was a pain). So in order for me to "stay in the system" and not have to start back at ground zero again, I decided this year I would work 50%-two days a week/three days a week/two days a week/three days a week (it isn't for the money, that's for sure - we are actually paying for me to work once we pay for day care). After reading that part in the parenthesis I am sure a lot of you are thinking, what the heck are you working for. Well you see, my insecurities took the best of me and I was afraid to resign again and have to go through the whole rehire thing down the road even though my heart's greatest desire is to be home full time with my kids. I tend to learn lessons the hard way! Anyways, so now I am dealing with a two year old who doesn't want to be left (which really isn't the problem for me) and cries all day while she is at the learning center (I understand she doesn't want to be left...I don't want to leave her, but I just wish she wasn't so sad). The drop off is the worst. I have tried sneaking out (all the books say this is a big no no-but I have tried it), I have tried saying bye to her, I have tried passing her off to a teacher...I just don't know what to do to help her. There isn't any thing I wouldn't try or do to help Kendra. She cries when she wakes up on school days because she sees me dressed and knows what is happening and cries the whole way there and they say she cries off and on the whole day...it is the most emotional thing I have ever done in my life to watch my own child go through this. I am kind of kicking myself for the decision I have made for this year but know that there is a purpose. Thank goodness Drew is too young to realize what is going on and is doing great. So to all those moms that have gone through this or will go through this, know my heart is with you...