My dd2 is an absolute nightmare, clingy as hell and it’s either her way or no way. Around me.
Around her dad she’s the most understanding & patient child ever and I wonder whether she’s the same child!
She picks up on when I’m stressing. So if I’m trying to get dd1 ready for school and they’re being their usual snail paced selves dd2 will cling to my legs as I’m not showing her all of the attention.
If she isn’t happy with someone talking to her (even her own sister) she will bury her head into my legs or lap.
The only thing I’ve found to work, is to be cruel to be kind and leave her with others. Her aunt looks after her a bit, her dad has her when I’m at work (we are together etc so it’s not living in two separate homes), my mum took her to the park earlier on this morning.. just little trips and bits of time away and it’s actually improving her confidence.
It’s very very slowly improving her attitude though, that’s a work in progress. I’m being a lot more stern with her (if she was crying for something I’d just give it her). Now, eg it’s bedtime and she tries to get pens or toys out, I’d used to let her have a little play to save the tantrum but now I’m straight on it saying ‘nope, bed’. She doesn’t like it ofc, but I had to stop it else I’d be walked over all my life!
I think try and find something out of the house that REALLY interests him. Even something messy, like playing with mud at the park or something which other people could take him to as well as you. Dd2 loves to play in the garden with water, cups, stones and mud and gets filthy but she will do that happily here, at nursery, with her Nan etc and it’s like a go to activity that is guaranteed to make her happy.
My mum when she takes her gets overly paranoid about germs, mud, dirty clothes, dirty shoes, but I’ve told her just let her have fun; if she’s happy I’m happy. What washing machines were invented for!