Young children who prefer someone else to their mum

[Toothehorn]

I watched American wife swap last night, the episode featured a little girl of primary school age, 6 or 7 or thereabouts.

The little girl really took to her new “mom”, who spent a lot of time with her, reading to her, playing games, cooking marshmallows together.
New mum had such a loving attentive way about her, so respectful of this little child.

When it was time for the mothers to swap back, this child told her new “mom” that she didn’t want her own mother to come back.

Quite a significant statement. The lovely new mom of course didn’t tell the real mother, although I’m sure she will have eventually seen it when the episode aired. I hope she changed her ways for the sake of her child.

Has anyone witnesses something like this?

I have fell in love with the new mom myself, she was quite something, radiated such warmth, I wouldn’t have wanted my mum back either.

It's a heavily dramatised show, filmed over a short space of time.

I don't know anything about the woman you're talking about, but I do know it's quite possible to act a different way for the cameras.

Had it been filmed over a few months, the child may or may not have had a very different reaction.

I don't know, kids say all sorts of things. My husband is very warm and my toddler always says "daddy is my best friend!" When I tell her off she tells me she wants Daddy there instead... But kids do need to be told off, for example when they are putting themselves in danger like trying to tantrum in the road, so I would take the things they say with a pinch of salt. Other times, when I've been playing with her, my DD says she prefers me to her dad. They're fickle at that age!