Here's a topic that has troubled most new parents at one time another, and it has caused untold agony to Primary workers as well. I'll let Andrea Slack of Houston lay the groundwork for you:

Any ideas out there for getting nursery and Sunbeam-age children to separate from Mom? Sometimes is the child that won't separate, but sometimes it's the mom who won't leave (or keeps coming back to "check" on the child, and starting the whole thing over again).

We have a little Sunbeam boy who simply won't go to Primary — not Sharing Time, or class.  He doesn't scream, but he will not stay seated with his class, or even stay in the room.

Andrea Slack
Houston, Texas

Good question, Andrea. Having never been a mother myself, I'm not qualified to answer this one. But I can tell you that it doesn't just happen when toddlers go off to nursery. There are similar anxieties whenever children start a new phase of life — whether it is kindergarten or first grade, or even off to college.

How do you mothers (or Primary workers, in the case of the little ones) successfully push your children out of the nest? And how do you cope with having that empty nest once the fledgling is off flying on his own?

If you'd like to write in and tell us what worked for you, send your thoughts to meridianmagazine@aol.com . Put something in the subject line that will let me know your letter isn't spam. And when you write, be sure to include your full name, city and state or province. (If you'd rather be semi-anonymous, sign your name as “A Reader from Michigan,” or “Sandy from Timbuktu.” The important thing is that we hear from you.)

Until next week — Kathy

"The best way to keep children home is to make the home atmosphere pleasant — and let the air out of the tires."

Dorothy Parker