mean to daddy

[mssjk]

My 3 yo DS gets a kick out of teasing/provoking my DH by rejecting him, refusing to give him a kiss good night etc. In general they have a good relationship (I think) but this is becoming more frequent. This evening, when DH got home from work and came over to give us a kiss hello, instead of a kiss, DS gave him a punch in the face :(
I'm starting to feel a bit worried about this. Until now I thought it best to not take too much notice, as it is pretty obviously a provocation thing - he does it to get a reaction. But it's becoming a bit of an ishoo, I know DH feels bad about it and I feel bad about it, knowing from the few times DS has "rejected" me, it's just not nice, even though you know he's only a child etc.etc.

Anyone have experience of similar behaviour? Advice?
Thanks, as always!

hi - i read of a problem like this in the guardian family section at the weekend. it seems like it's a completely normal stage of development and is particularly common when children start to talk. i haven't had direct experience of it myself but know friends who have.

here's a link to the guardian piece: www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/18/annalisa-barbieri-problem-children-reject-father

DD (also 3) can be all into me as in 'No, mama brings me milk', ' I want mama to play with me, not you, daddy' etc etc. It comes and goes and it seems worse when DP works late so she spends more time with me. Maybe it's a subconcious way of punishing him You know, like when cats won't even look at you if you dare to leave them for few days

In any case, I wouldn't worry too much, it'll pass soon enough.

My DD is 2.8 and has been doing this for sometime. Initially it was 'I want Mummy to do it' for EVERYTHING but then before Xmas, DH was working horrid shifts for about 5 weeks so when that settled down, DD wanted Daddy for everything. The difference is that DH gets very very upset and really does feel rejected, whereas when DD does it to me, I feel a) relieved that DH is getting some attention from her and b) relieved that I can have a bit of time to myself!!

This will change. It'll be your DH's turn to be 'the chosen one' soon enough. Make the most of the freedom when it happens! Funnily enough, even when DD is in one of her 'I want Daddy' periods, it's still me that she wants to brush her teeth and my lap that she wants to sit on for her cup of milk in the evening. Your DS may settle into a routine of wanting you for certain things and DH for certain things.

As an aside, I'm assuming that you didn't 'ignore' the punch in the face that your DS gave your DH - I'm guessing that was reprimanded...

Good luck!

Thank you, ladies, for your replies. Read that article, NNShame, very interesting. The punch in the face was definitely not ignored, but I don't know if I'd say he was "reprimanded", just told, in no uncertain terms, for the umpteenth time, that hitting is wrong. That's part of a more general aggression thing that has been progressing recently too. I'm just hoping that it's normal/a phase and/or a manifestation of whatever confused feelings he's experiencing regarding his soon-to-arrive new brother or sister (due end of April). ANYWAY...
thanks, all!