r/emotionalneglect•
At0W

Anyone else left home alone as a toddler?

When I was 3 years old, I was left alone for hours for many times. I don't know how long this period lasted but it lasted a while. Mom was teaching at a school and dad was a doctor taking care of patients 1 floor down in his private office or was at the hospital so they were both at work. Apparently I was banging my head on the floor repeteadly out of frustration. It has become a core memory, I remember being home alone looking at the wall while on my knees but not the head banging.

Years later dad told me I was banging my head so loudly he could hear it in his office, he told this while smiling. The thing is I dont think he meant to be malicious, although the act is malicious. He is just that obtuse and ignorant. He was always very emotionally immature.

I asked mom about why there wasnt anything done about this situation, she told me my dad's assistant was supposed to take care of me while they were working but she didnt come upstairs and mom didnt know the assistant wasn't babysitting. Dad didnt tell his assistant to go upstairs either apparently. Also she is the doctor's assistant, is she supposed to help my dad with his job or be my babysitter? The plan was going to fail anyway.

I think this period was one of many that affected my unhealthy attachment style and nervous system.

Posted Jun 12, 2026, 8:13 PM UTC

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