Ally returns to me... I hope

Alas, the working woman's woes! The other day, my husband told me that Ally has started calling my new maid Delia "Mama". An innocent remark by him and I think he found it quite funny. But I did not find it quite so funny even though I did not show any signs of distress. I just let the sinking feeling fester: Oh no, I've not been around and Ally has started clinging to someone else!

This new attachment was made even more obvious one time when she woke up in the middle of the night and even I could not appease her cries. She kept on crying and pointing outside(presumably outside to find Delia) and calling Mama ( Since I was already carrying her, she couldn't have been calling me right?). Still, I stuck to my guns and she finally fell asleep in my arms.

I've been in the shop 7 days a week from 11am to 830pm for the past two months. No choice because my full time staff has yet to come in. She'll be in in about 2 weeks.
So for a month or more, Ally has been taken care of very well, maybe too well, by my maid. Funny how clever babies are and link the main caregiver to "mama". I spend more time playing with her now, rather than feeding , bathing and putting her to sleep.So, maybe she finds me more of a playmate than her mama.

Anyway, these past few days have been better. Rudely shocked by this wake up call, I have made the effort to wake up earlier in the morning (even if lazybones me can't seem to open my eyes!) and spend some time with her. And I make sure she comes to the shop regualrly and often.

And thankfully, it has worked. She now prefers me again, shaking her head when others ( yes, including the maid) try to take her away from me. And she cries when I leave the house. Never did I think I would relish these cries. I can't wait for my full time staff to come in so I can spend more time with her!