When my son started doing this at the same age, I also didn't want him to feel like he was getting his way, but it was difficult to ignore. So, this is what I did. I don't know if it exactly worked or if he just outgrew the separation anxiety on his own, but I would go to do what I needed to do, and if he was looking at me when I got up, I would tell him, "Mommy's going to go put these towels away. I'll be right back." Of course he would cry while I did it. I would go to him after I was done and hug him assure him that I was back. Sometimes I would come up with reasons to get up and leave his sight so that he would learn that I would always come back. To me, the most important thing would be to assure your daughter that you will be back and hug her when you're done and say something like, "See, mommy came back." When my son was that age, I worked in the evenings so that I could be home with him during the day and he would be with his father at night. Every time he would see me in my uniform, he would start screaming because he knew that I would be leaving. As he got older, one of the funniest things was the first time my son got up to go get a toy and looked at me, pointed his finger and told me, "My be right back". I know it's tough right now, but just be consistent and it will get better.