Mouse, think of your children and their experiences. That's more "normal" for other people. They cry/cried and are/were upset when you would leave but "adjusted." We don't adjust so well yet because of our backgrounds. I use to remind myself of other, "well-adjusted" I knew when I was upset and missing my T. It's kind of like a form of grounding. You know how when someone you know/love dies and the world keeps going on and you are amazed? It's like that only most people haven't just lost someone or don't have their T away. The other "knowledge" of how it "actually" is doesn't help how I feel under the circumstances but does help me feel a bit more sane. I have some hope that I'll grow into the other type of person who isn't so traumatized and upset when people I love are away. The hope gives me a bit of satisfaction. When we went to the shore when I was 6 I'd run into the water and couldn't understand why the adults didn't but now I'm adult and have different feelings so know I won't always feel like I do now either.