Finding this really upsetting from my nearly 5 year old

[alwaysplayingplaydoh]

My nearly 5 year old openly prefers my DH and its starting to really upset me. He will hit me, push me away etc for no reason and say no mummy I only want daddy, or I only love Daddy etc. If we all go for a walk together he will say he only wants to go with Daddy. I'm worried I must have done something wrong.

Some children are like that.
My sister has 6. Her 2nd daughter who is over 30, adores dad and just about tolerates my sister

@Mydogisagentleman blimey that’s a bit bleak!

OP it’s a really normal phase, they can be very fickle at that age. But at nearly five he is not too young to know that words and actions hurt feelings, so I wouldn’t hesitate to tell him that saying those kind of things hurt mummy, and make her sad, and his dad should be backing you up saying it as well. I certainly would not tolerate being hit and pushed!! What are the consequences for that?! That’s not acceptable.

I agree, it doesn't "mean" anything and it will pass, but his dad should be teaching him it's not acceptable to be rude or unkind to mum.

It is bleak!
It’s a running joke in the family that she won’t leave home or find a relationship until her dad dies.
Fortunately they have a rock solid marriage

Hitting and pushing you

Hitting and pushing you is not good - that needs to be stopped now. He's old enough to know that is not acceptable.

My oldest was like that as a little one. I remember being thrilled one night when I heard him calling for me. I jumped out of bed and went to him ready to comfort him and he put out his arms and said "Can you carry me in to daddy? I don't want to wake him!"

We have immediate consequences for hitting and pushing and his Dad always backs me up and pulls him up on rude and upsetting behaviour

I just feel like I do my best and my son doesn't actually like me