Almost 3 Year Old Acting like a Teenager! Help!

you're not alone! my daughter does the same thing. seems so unfair since you did all the work to get her here. but you just have to know that she loves you. even though sometimes it might not seem that way...she does. :)

Completely normal. In fact, don't be surprised if down the line it is you she wants for everything and daddy had to go away. But wait for that moment when she falls down and gets a boo boo, then she needs mommy to make it all better!! Does it hurt our feelings? yes. Do they understand that? no. It's part of growing up and discovering themselves as a person with wants, needs and how to fulfill them. Both of my kids have gone through this too. Now more so with my daughter, I get replaced with other kids parents (she's 9) but my 3yr old son goes back and forth between me and daddy. Just hang in there, your day will come when it's your turn!

S.

Definately don't make over the behavior. Positive or negative, she will be getting reward. She is just immature in her learning how to show her will. Other than not reacting and saying iwth your words what you wished she would have said "I would like to play with Daddy right now, can I play with you later?", also have your husband and you show affection to each other in her presence and have fun with it. It will make her want to be part of the threesome.

Starts early, eh? Have fun with it, it will swing around :). J.

I stay home with my 2 boys, 3 yrs and 1 yr and when daddy gets home I am invisible. I do think its more of a caretaker thing. Daddy plays rougher and lets the boys climb all over him and reads the books at bedtime & even when we go to a store my 3 yr old has to hold daddy's hand not mine and I do the dishes, laundry and the cleaning, take care of them when they are hurt, etc...One day the baby, when he was 10 months, didn't want anything to do with me so I know how you feel. I do hope they grow out of it too.

hang in there, chicky LOL my 4yo is now, has been for a loooong time, a mommas girl, but did go thru the same thing, several times to be exact. daddy loves it! what better way to get daddy involved than for his baby girl to state so boldly that HE is HER world??? i think it's Gods way of getting dads wrapped up in their childrens' lives.

don't worry, it'll come back around and you'll be the center of her universe again, at times w/a vengance LOL enjoy it - now and when she comes around. just love her to the ends of the earth and it'll pay you big dividends.

VERY normal. She is testing her powers and will. You are home more with her and Daddy isn't-that is a novelty for her to only play with him or have him respond to her needs.
Just wait until she is older! Yep-she'll do it throughout her growing up. She'll reverse it again and again. It will always hurt when it happens but you know it will be you again, soon.

Good luck! It's normal.

I'm a sahm and my son turned 2 in March. The only quality time either of us get with my husband is the 2 days a week that he's off of work. When he's not around, my son is my shadow! But when hubby's home....he wants him to play with him, read, put him to bed and even push the cart in the store! I understand him wanting to have time to interact with his daddy without me around, and I suppose all kids go through this phase at some point in time so I would agree that it's perfectly "normal". However, I applaud my husband for putting his foot down when my son becomes rude, mean or agressive with his request. Granted, they are 2 so their communication skills are lacking, but they DO need to know when they are crossing the line with words and actions! How else will they learn......n ow's the best time! I would say try to give them some "daddy - daughter time" regularly (this is your chance for a MUCH NEEDED break!) But also make sure you spend, very affectionate, time together as a family. She also needs to see you and your husband interact affectionately with eachother. It will pass, but in the meantime try not to get offended and just enjoy some "me time" while they play!
God bless you and your family ;o)

I feel your pain, and yes it's totally normal. I have a 3 year old girl too. She has done the same to myself and my husband. Though to be honest she has rejected her Dad more often than me. She likes to snuggle with me and I get her what she needs. Dad is the fun one and she goes to him for playtime. It is hurtful when they reject you because they can even seem mean about it. We just talk to her about her behavior being not nice and to not treat people that way. It has helped her to be more sensitive to other people's feelings. No worries though because she'll change her mind and want her mommy for everything in no time. Back and forth, it really is like they're hormonal teenagers.

Hi M.:

I also have a three year old little girl, and I have noted similar behavior in her over the past 6 months or so. I think at this age they are just beginning to assert their independence and practice the ability to make their own choices. I have been very careful to explain to her that speaking to mommy like that is very hurtful, and that I love her very much (she also does this to her Daddy at times). My husband is also very helpful and reinforces that her words are hurtful. We both work very hard to display love and respect to her no matter how how ugly she can be to us. We are also careful not to offer her rewards such as TV time, toys or snacks if she acts like this. Although her attitude used to last longer (especially in the month following her 3rd birthday), she usually turns it around as soon as we speak to her about it.

Just remember that she is learning how others around her will react to her tone and words by the way you are responding to her now. Reinforce the attitudes (I'm sure that you already do) that you want her to display and talk to her / deny rewards when she reacts poorly to you or Dad.

I wish you the best of luck! I'm sure that this will fade with time.

M.

Sounds like your daughter has "fallen" for her daddy. All four of my girls fell in love with their dad at somewhere between 3 and 4. I think it is normal. Since most girls get their self esteem from their fathers it is a good thing. Take some time for yourself now...let daddy give her some attention. And don't take it personally..it is a great time for them to build a relationship that hopefully will help her to feel great about herself. She is a lucky girl to get that attention from her daddy.

I too have an almost 3 year old that's going on 17! She isn't consistant with only wanting one of us all of the time, but she has mommy days where she only wants me. Then she'll have daddy days. But what we tell her is that its ok to want to hang out with one of us, but that she can't be mean to the other. She can still be nice. So that would be my suggestion. Explain to her that its good to want to be with daddy, but that it hurts your feelings, or makes you sad when she says "go away", and that its not nice. Those are all terms that she understands and won't be too complicated. She also still gives hugs and kisses at bedtime to the other parent also. Good luck!

My 2 year old has already been through this. She goes back and forth between wanting her dad and me. Don't take it personally, it isn't. She just doesn't know how to say things differently. I know it can hurt, but try and remember how great it is that she has a good relationship with her dad. Try to enjoy the time you have to yourself and realize that your time will come.

look up electra complex. It's a weird theory but maybe there is something to it.