How do you react when your child will prefer other people rather than you...
@ladymoonstone143 (1507)
United States
April 24, 2007 10:20pm CST
I just came back from visiting my inlaws and now my toddler keeps on telling me or my husband she rather be with her grandparents. She is almost 3 and talks a lot. She told us that she doesn't want to live here in Texas anymore because she wants to go to Florida and be with my inlaws. This is accompanied with whining and crying.
Assessing the situation, this is pretty common with children this age. They still can't explain how they felt so they are quite vocal about it. For one thing, her grandparents spoil her a whole lot, she is their princess and she gets anything she wants. She also knows that Disneyworld is in Florida and she wanted to go back there. Plus, the house has a huge backyard with a playground set, etc. We go out somewhere almost everyday and she nevers gets a spanking if she misbehaves.
So, more or less, my husband and I concluded that our daughter is quite smart to know all this. When she goes into this tirade, we explain to her gently that her home is with Mommy and Daddy. We just go visit her grandparents and they will come visit us. We are in Texas because Daddy works here, etc. We know she misses them so we understand that she can't explain in full details why she prefers them to us as of this moment. And then, we just got back so she is settling back in. Even if it is quite irritating to explain to her over and over and over again this thing, but explaining is the best way to do rather than matching her tirade with one of our own, which will make us her parents acting childishly too.
What about you....how do you deal with this kind of situation...when your child prefers their teacher, nanny, baby sitter, aunt, etc over you?
1 response
@mememama (3076)
• United States
25 Apr 07
I used to prefer my grandparents when I was a child because they bought me stuff and I had more fun. But that doesn't mean I loved my parents any less. I think she's just reacting that way because she had a lot of fun. It means you are doing a good job if she cares about other people so much. My inlaws live on the other side of the country, and my son just lights up when he sees his grandmother.


