Daughter prefers dad to me.

[Actuallywantautumntocome]

Dd, 5, told me she loves daddy the best, then cuddled me and said ‘I still love you too, but love daddy the most’
I acted like it was fine/I didn’t mind.
I know children say these sorts of things and not to take it to heart, but recently she’s been asking all the time when daddy is home and seeming bored being with me. She’s always asking where he is (if he goes to the shop or even the toilet)
Whereas I’ve been upstairs reading for two hours and she’s not even noticed/asked where I am.
I probably sound pathetic, but recently it feels like she’s moving away from me-doesn’t like to cuddle as much or sit together.
Anyone else experienced this.
Is it just girls? My mum friends with boys all seem to be real mummies boys.

No one has similar?

Yep happens with both boys and girls. I think 5/6 seems to be the age of favouring the parent that's not there as much. That's what I've found anyway. It does hurt but it will pass. I've not got to the teenage years yet, guessing it will be 10x worse 🙈😂

Yep, in teenage years they hate you both!!!

DD is definitely a daddies girl. She'd never say it to me but she would pick him to do her story more etc. If it bothers me i just remind myself that she is really lucky to have such an amazing dad and i know she still loves me too.

My nephews always favoured their Dad till they were age 7 and weren't shy about it. They are 12 and 9 now and 100% mummies boys, it's just a phase, it'll pass.

My girls 2 and she has always been a mummies girl. My husband dotes on her and has done 50/50 since birth but she always seems to want me

don’t think it’s a gender thing

I have boy/girl twins. 3yrs.

The boy is my absolute shadow, tells me he loves me, snuggles up with me. The girl would rather I didn't come near her, and if I try and give her a kiss tells me "not you".

Which is always nice

My DD was like this and preferred her Dad. She chose him rather than me to go with her when she had to go to hospital for a minor op. It went on for years, but now she is 15yo and we have a really good close mother/daughter relationship.

DD is all me (she is 4). Actually makes my husband a bit sad sometimes as she isnt shy about saying she loves me most. Earlier we said she could have a toy shop trest for good behaviour and she cried that she didn't want us all to go she wanted just me and her to go. I had DS 4 months ago so I think she's clinging on a bit more than normal as he obviously takes up a lot of my time. She's always been a bit of a mummies girl though

My dd adored me when she was younger. She’s now a hormonal 14 year old and all for her dad. I can’t say or do anything right (even though I literally do everything for her). I’m hoping that she can at least tolerate me again at some point!

There’s plenty of time for it all to change so I wouldn’t worry too much.

Mine both preferred Daddy at that age. The fun parent who comes home late and can read all the bedtime stories in the world because he hasn’t been dealing with chaos since 6:30am. They got over it.

Yes, it feels a bit of a kick in the teeth when you do 90% of the things for them 🙈

My DS is like this, and literally has always been. We joke about it a lot. He always wants his dad to go in when he wakes up in a morning and to do bedtime. I usually just say ‘ah well it’s mummy’s turn today, you know that’ (we alternate) and he just laughs because he’s just trying it on.

It can be serious sometimes though, and involve tears, but we never give in and DH is super supportive with it all. I actually think it’s because he just sees me all the time. DH is really hands on and we’re together all weekend but I’m off with DS 2 days a week where we do stuff just the two of us so have lots of alone time.

Tonight he said, mummy I want daddy to do bedtime one billion times in a row and then you do it once 😂 Ok son no probs. It’s infuriating at times but also we just try to take it in our stride.

It’s me he wants when he’s upset and he’s very loving towards me still so I know it’s not personal !

DD used to say this to me all the time. I'd tell her I loved her and she'd tell me she loved DH! She's 9 now and loves us both equally, and needs us for different things.

DS5 says his "order of love" is: DD, me and then DH. He's very factual about it!

It can be hurtful but they don't mean it, not really. Your DD adores you, OP, even if it doesn't seem like it.

Ours were always daddies girls but they did love me and were happy with me, daddy was probably more fun. They just go through phases.

Yes loads, but I've noticed that always prefer the parent whose not ticking them off at any giving moment!
Thing is I know they love me, and I love them, so when I get the 'I hate you mum, wish I'd never been born' I normally respond with something like 'well that's fine, because I love you, so all's well'. I think sometimes they just need reassurance that we love them no matter what.
I have a teen and a tween, and they definitely prefer their dad, when I'm asking them to help out with the chores!

I feel your pain. One of my grandchildren tells me all the time they love their other Granny more, despite the fact that I spend much more time with them. I know they are only little but yes it hurts.

My 9 year old son is a total mummy's boy

My 2 year old daughter is obsessed with her daddy

🤷🏽‍♀️ sometimes I just want to be with the cat

Look - these children are loved, and are secure enough to be able to express themselves as they know mummy/daddy won't run away on them for telling the "truth" - that is so phenomenal for a child. Lucky little ducks.

I definitely take into account that my DD, is a total daddy's girl...but daddy will sneak her chocolate when mummy says no, and carry her around because she's a lazy toad and I make her walk, and make her an icrecream, while I insist "you're not having one before dinner"

She knows where her bread is buttered...