Separation anxiety: Why children seemingly cry out of nowhere

Many parents think that children crying out of nowhere makes a child "bad" or "naughty". This is a common attitude amongst American parents. Most American parents think that children crying out of nowhere is the child "undermining parental authority". However. the fact of the matter is that young children usually cry out of separation anxiety, meaning nothing personal.

Tending to separation anxiety is part of the Christian doctrine of mutual submission, with the burden of proof falling squarely onto parents. See Colossians 3:20-21 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers here to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and submission of parents. This highlighted word ultimately refers to a secure attachment between parent and child in the family home. This secure attachment comes from parent submission, where parents are to perform good works for children, with children resting securely in the good works of parents. Good works are defined here as doing good things for children, meeting children's every vulnerable need, expecting absolutely nothing in return. See also Matt. 22:35-40, 25:31-46; 1Cor. 13:4-8. 

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers here to damages or offenses, namely the slightest of personal offense perceived by a child, including, but not limited to, the slightest of offensive touch or speech perceived by a child, stemming from entitlement. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul, and was understood in its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including, but not limited to, any punishment, reprimands, or other controlling demeanor towards children. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting, after punishing their children one last time. The parents who punished their children were initially charged with kidnapping, with "kidnapping" being defined under the Law as the slightest of damages or offenses stemming from hostage-taking - child punishment was seen in biblical times as holding your child hostage merely for things that they did wrong, thereby treating your child as a quartered slave. Paul here was lifting up the Law in order to convict a group of Greek Christian parents who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punishing children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child in his secular writings. Paul may not have gotten along with the women of the church, but he sure loved children, and even took in a few orphaned children during his time as deacon.

Children who cry seemingly out of nowhere are usually punished by parents in today's American society. However, Christian parents in the Early Church knew more than today's parents that children under age 6 usually cry seemingly out of nowhere when they need mom. Children then cried a deathly, screeching cry when they were afraid of mothers "going away and never coming back".

Even when mothers went into the other room of their home, children cried a deathly, screeching cry that no loving mother could ignore. Mom was then forced to reassure her child of her presence, and that mom was not going anywhere. Mothers and her young children were seemingly attached at the hip, meaning children would not let mothers out of their line of sight.

It is recommended that mothers stay home for the first 6 years of a child's childhood. This is because children under age 6 are morbidly afraid of mom "going away and never coming back". Leaving the house and going to work will actually cause a form of trauma known as an attachment injury. Mothers going away is a child's worst fear realized, and when the mother was left with an emotional mess to clean up when she comes home. Children over age 6 are more resilient, and can be left with a babysitter with no problem, but not until the child attains the age of 6. 

Children today do seem to cry out of nowhere. That is because the cry for attachment is interpreted as a "need" for punishment. Children then learn to hide their separation anxiety, until they can keep it in no longer. Then, children cry out loud out of nowhere, when all they needed from the beginning was YOU. 

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be cast forever into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend into the abyss which is the ever-burning Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath day and night forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!