tomorrow my 19 month old dd is starting Mother's Day out. she'll be there two days a week for 5 hours/ day. we've never been apart for that long, unless it's family watching her.
i'm afraid she's going to resent me if she thinks i am abandoning her. can babies resent their parents?

I highly doubt your baby will end up resenting you. Their memory is still very short term at this point. Its not until they're about 4 or 5 that their long term memory kicks in. You'll have enough resentment coming your way once the teenage years hit so try not to worry about it right now.

Since your dd has never stayed with a stranger before, it will probably be very hard for her to make the adjustment. Does she make strange easily? Does she pull away from people she doesn't know? If so, it will probably be very hard to leave her since she'll just cling to you and cry when you go to leave. Hopefully she plays well with other children and she will get attached to them.

if its possible, go about 1/2 hour before you're suspossed to drop her off to help her get adjusted with you there. It would stink if you pay for child care for 5 hours but you're there for 4 of those hours.

I only left my DD with a stranger once and even then it was someone I knew well and has twins 3 months older than her. Even then she didn't want to let me go, but I had to go to a funeral so she really didn't have a choice. I don't know how I would be leaving her with a stranger.

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I know it is not something you are excited about, but after some adjusting I think it will be fine for both of you!
I think she will be surrounded by other kids and learn some great social skills and make new friends..She will have fun!!!
She won't be mad at you! Babies this age don't think like we as adults do!
She will be fine and so will you!!
Good luck

thanks. i called my mom today about this and she was no help. very condescending of my decision.
but i came home today from school, thinking i'd like to rush right out and get her and i realized the house is quiet!
so i did dishes and had lunch. not an easy feat when my dd's running around the house.

i think we'll be fine.

I understand your struggles. I've recently returned to work and truthfully, my four year old, almost five, is having more problems with the issue than my 14 month is. He misses me but he's pretty happy hanging with his daddy. My daughter -- it has been a lot harder on her.