My son says he loves his daddy more than me...

[bunny85]

Hi all,

Ok I know this is going to sound silly, but I thought I'd post anyway to see if someone experienced the same. I have a 4 year old son whom I adore and being SAHM spend all my time with (with the exception of nursery hours). He's always been a mummy's boy but lately he started saying he loves daddy more than me not that I ask! He says it himself... It could be because I'm with him all day and obviously when he misbehaves I try to discipline him and I do tell him off sometimes, but we also play and read and get on well. Then my husband comes from work and starts with all the rough and tumble play and giggles and lots of fun and he puts him to sleep often. He also disciplines him a lot and tells him off when needed, so it's not like he's always the 'good one'. But I honestly don't see why? He often started saying he wanted to go somewhere with daddy without me etc. and that he loves him more... any ideas?

Thanks!

Any ideas?! Ignore it! He's 4.

My 3 year old says the same

He knows it upsets me and he’s just doing it to test me

He also tells me I should go to work and he wants daddy at home more

Dd2 says this.
I'm separated from her dad & she only sees him on a Saturday or in school hols.
Guess who the fun parent is.....
Dd1 went through same thing - and now thinks it but doesn't say it coz she's getting a filter & understanding feelings...

My sons four, he regularly tells me he loves my friend more than me and has even told my friend “i think you love me more than daddy”. Clearly nothing to do with the almost never ending supply of sweets and zero rules!

He also tells me he loves the cat more than me, to be fair she is the worlds greatest cat.

Both my sons have said this at various points. What’s a helpful response? To take it to heart, or to believe that they show how much they love me in lots of ways. That’s what I try to choose.

Be happy your son feels safe, secure and able to say how he feels?

Thank you for the replies, good to hear it's not just my child saying this. I'll try not to take it so personal. The other thing is my DH buys him too many presents, even spoils him to be honest, which I don't. I think it could be the reason as well. So today I bought him 2 toys on the spur of the moment

I know how you feel but like pp say, try not to take it to heart too much. My DS is 5 and he said the other day 'I love you Mummy but you are a little bit boring'! Er thanks son 😂

mine have gone through phases. They have sometimes loved their dad most, sometimes their nana most, sometimes me. Ds12 recently told me that my uncle was his favourite person (he takes him to football matches)
Im pretty damn sure theyd miss me quick enough if I wasnt around though

Your little boy doesn't really understand love and relationships op, plus i think they just take you for granted when you are around all the time. He probably can't really seperate his feelings about you from those about himself, iykwim, where daddy is more of a separate entity. My Ds much preferred dh when he was little, no idea why as he was not a hands on dad by any means. It evened out as he grew up though.