A Cuban mother residing in Spain shared on TikTok the anguish she felt when leaving her eight-month-old daughter at daycare for the first time, in a video that captures one of the most challenging moments of parenting for any emigrant parent.
Susana Aguiar, known on social media as "Susy de Cuba" (@susana_aguiar), recorded the clip from outside the educational center while waiting for her baby’s first solo session to conclude. The video, published on September 9, garnered dozens of "likes" and comments from other parents who related to the situation.
For the first two days of the adjustment week, on Monday and Tuesday, Susy and her husband stayed inside the classroom with their daughter, the teacher, and the other children. The baby adapted without major difficulties. But on Wednesday came the moment of real separation: the little girl would stay alone in the classroom for one hour, from 9:45 to 10:45 in the morning.
"As a mother, it doesn't stop making a knot in her throat," the TikToker confessed in the video, also describing the "tightness in her chest" she felt when distancing herself. Despite this, she acknowledged her trust in the center: "We've been told it's a very good daycare, we've heard great things about it."
Both parents decided to wait outside throughout the entire session, without going home.
An additional factor weighed on Susy's mind: her daughter, born at the end of December, was classified in the one to two-year-old group alongside children from January and February who are already walking. "My child doesn't belong in the baby group; she belongs in 1-2, and that's another thing that adds to my concern because she'll be with kids who are already walking," she explained.
Separation anxiety is a common reaction during childhood development and can appear with particular intensity during the first year of life. Therefore, adjusting to daycare can be a challenging process for both the baby and the parents.
Despite the anguish, Susy found reasons to be grateful. "I am very thankful to be in a country where I have complete confidence in the education he will receive," she said.
The clip concluded with a message of support for those going through the same process: "Trust, trust that everything will be alright and that this is just another stage we have to overcome."
The Cuban mother is not the first to share this type of experience: another Cuban mother broke down in tears when leaving her daughter at school for the first time, in a video that also generated a wave of solidarity on social media.
Susy had already starred in previous viral moments, such as when she found an item in a Spanish store that reminded her of Cuba for just 72 cents, a video that exceeded 43,500 views.
Filed under: