The Dreaded Morning Drop-off. In the toddler room at our daycare, Little B. and her Mom were having a tough time in the mornings. Little B. did not want her Mom to leave, and was crying and clinging on to her. After 15 or 20 minutes, one of the teachers would pry little B. away, holding and comforting her while Mom makes her not-so-clean or happy getaway.

After a few mornings like this, I ran into Bs Mom in the parking lot. She looked helpless, pregnant with guilt, little Bs tears and cries still weighing on her.

"Tough, huh?" I asked. "Yeah, its gotten pretty bad lately. I dont know what to do."

I felt compelled to reveal my Secret to a Guilt-free, Tears-free Morning Drop-offs. Actually, its a technique (or Parent Hack, if you will) that we learned at our last daycare.

"You might have her push you out," I suggested. "What do you mean?"

It works like this: A teacher or parent asks the child, "Do you want to push Mommy (or Daddy) out of the room?" during the good-bye portion of the drop-off. The child agrees. Mommy or Daddy turns, faces the door and the child pushes the parents butt, like a choo-choo train, out the room.

"Yeah, Ill give it try," said Bs Mom.

How did it go? When I ran into Bs Mom a week later, she was gushing with thanks. Amazing, she said. And I got to witness it in action the next morning, both of them happy and even having added their little tickling twist to the drop-off ritual. No tears, no banshee cries. No guilt in sight.

As a bonus. "Now she even pushes me out of her room at bed time, " said Bs Mom.

The next morning, I saw Little N, another one of the kids whos been having a tough time. After 10 min., her mother spontaneously suggested to little N, "Do you want to push me out?" Little N. agreed.

"Its nice to leave her not screaming her head off in the morning," I overheard Ns Mom telling Bs Mom.

Why it works. It empowers the child. It gives them some control. They decide (sort of) when you leave. They are pushing you out; youre not leaving/abandoning them.

And its fun. Like playing choo-choo trains.

The Downside.

1. It may not always work. Although I have yet to see it not work.
2. Its a little manipulative.

Yes, but. My instinct says a little manipulation is better than all the tears, cries and the guilt.

Give it a try and let me how it went for you.

J. Lee writes for http://mysearchformeaning-money.blogspot.com/ and http://daddymadeit.blogspot.com/