[redbonec]

I was wondering if anyone can offer advice or tell me if this is normal. Is this a stage our daughter is going through, and what can we do about it?

For the summer, my husband is home a lot of the time. (He teaches and coaches during the school year.) At home he has always been very involved with K. Plays with her, we eat togeter, he gives her bath since she was born, reads to her at night, gets her to help him in the yard. But, for the past several weeks, our daughter does not want to much involve him in anything, and does not want to include him.
In the morning if he is the one to get her up, she cries for Mommy.
In the morning, she asks if he is going somewhere (so that he will not be home.)
She gets upset if Daddy tries to help her with anything, saying Mommy to do it.
At times it has gotten rude, to where she will not answer his questions, which could be about anything like if she likes something she is eating for lunch.
She also interrupts if we are talking to each other.

It is almost like she is jealous of him for my attention, and he is an intruder to her. I guess during the school year, she has my attention, as he is gone during the day, so she doesn't mind when he is home later. But when he is here more, she doesn't like it.

She seems to do better when it is JUST them without me, like if they go somewhere on an errand.

A friend suggested that it could be because she is a girl she really wants me, as my friend's son really likes his dad and always wants to be with him.

My husband tries not to get offended, but I feel bad for him.

Any suggestions on how our family time can be better, and her enjoy all of us being together, and not her wishing it was just Mommy and me all the time?

[committedsoul]

Bumping... I can't offer any help, but hopefully someone else can... Sending hugs your way...

[lotsa_love_2give]

My husband is home a lot throughout the day, due to him being a pastor, and him and L have always been close. But we are nearing on her 2nd birthday and if I am anywhere around, she is stuck on me like glue. She only wants Mommy to get her a cuppie or find her pabby or her blankie. If I leave the room or have to run to town, she if fine with Daddy!

I don't get it. It gets frustrating for him because he feels like she doesn't want to have anything to do with him, but I really feel it's just a phase!

We are considering putting her in day school one or two days a week this fall since she never gets out of the house. I don't want her to be an overprotected sheltered child! lol (like I was). Since I am a SAHM, she see me 24 hours a day.. I think in my case that has a LOT to do with it!

[Withay]

It is a perfectly normal stage. There will come the day when she prefers daddy to mommy.

[Daisy1339]

I haven't been around a three year old in a really long time, so I don't know if this is a ridiculous question. But, is she fairly articulate? I mean, could you simply ask her why she feels this way about her dad? If so, I would ask her when he isn't around and see if she sheds some light on it for you.

Good Luck!

[maviskat]

My oldest is 2 1/2 and has been doing the same thing now for several months...only wants mommy in the morning or if she wakes at night, only mommy can read to her, only mommy can sing with her, only mommy can put her to bed. She will actually tell daddy to "stop it" if he does something that only mommy is allowed to do. She also gets mad at him when he hugs or kisses me in front of her!
However, if I am not home she has no problem with him doing these things.
It is a phase...I know pretty soon it will be all about daddy!!!!

[Saya]

My 3-year-old has had stages doing this as well, where she's all about mommy and daddy can just step off. If we're both around, only I can do bedtime, etc. I think it's a very typical stage - and I'll add that she does have times when she's all about daddy, thought they seem to not last as long.

[redbonec]

Ok I am feeling better now after reading your replies.
And, oddly, today she was all happy with Daddy--playing this morning, greeted him with a smile, said she loved him, and is having a grand time right now as he is giving her a bath.
I think I'll just try to stop figuring things out!