"I don't have to listen to you, only Daddy" - Why the bias?

[quidnunc]

I am sure this is a passing phase, but I have heard it said by DS (7) a few times now. DW & I both work full time so there is no major difference in time spent with DCs.

Why would DS dismiss DWs authority? She isn't exactly a doormat, although it is fair to say that if either of us are the disciplinarian, it is more me than DW.

Does any one have a similar experience I can learn from? Does it fade away, should we ignore it or tackle it now?

It should fade if you are both actively involved in parenting your children, and have a similar code of behaviour that you are sticking to.
And if you don't leap in to back her up when she's having minor difficulties, so that she gets to be the assertive one.
Sounds very normal for a chap of 7, does he go to the men's toilets when you're out? That was the first time my lad discovered a place he could go that I couldn't follow!

Thanks, GC. I think so too. We are both as hands on as we can be. Good point about not intervening. I have sometimes felt the need to do that if he's acting up and not responding to DW.

I think that if you are both consistent-back each other up and never let him him play one off against the other it will just be a phase. Don't intervene-it reinforces the idea that your word is more important.