Do some kids prefer one parent over the other? ?

Question

My 5 year old son is "attached at the hip" to my wife, always drawing her pictures and making her things but never does that for me, I'm not jealous but I do feel a bit left out at times. However my wife says the same thing to me, that our daughter prefers me and never leaves my side, which is true. Is this just a classic case of mommys boys/daddys girls, or could a 5 and 4 year old actually know to value one parent more than the other?

Sorry if I sound immature and whiny but Im just wondering if this happens in other families? (I have four boys previous to the son I mentioned and this never occured with them)

thanks

Answer 1

haha yes i know exactly what you mean.

my oldest daughter who is 4 is EXACTLY like a "mini me" of her father, she always goes with him fishing, skiing, snowboarding etc.

Then there are my twins aged 18 months and one of them is a realy "mummys girl" and the other one is completely independant and does everything by herself lol.

strange isnt it?

:)

Answer 2

i was like that too when i was little my parents are divorced and i was always like that with my mom

then the past 6 months ive wanted to be with my dad but he gave me up and know i have no contact with him

im 14 yrs old

Answer 3

I wouldn't feel worried, just keep showing your son you love him.  I think every family has a daddy's girl and mommy's boy.  My sister was a daddy's girl and I think it's just a special connection between your son and your wife.  The way you have a connection with your daughter.  Just keep with the son and father activities.

Answer 4

Yes I spent more time with my farther until I reached 11 then it evened out.

Answer 5

It's perfectly normal for children to favor the parent of the opposite s*x. That's why they call them "mama's boys" and "daddy's little girl". It's not that they value you any less, it's just their way of getting to know an unfamiliar gender.

Answer 6

i was always a daddy's girl and was attached to my dad until a few years ago, and my older brother was a typical mummy's boy,

but as we both grew up, we both love each parent and get on with them as well as the other.

Answer 7

They probably prefer  one parent to the other.

Answer 8

:D hey. kids can never like one parent better than the other!!

BUT...if they do its probably because the parent the like better spoils then or is nicer (no offense)

talk to your wife about this.

Answer 9

I like my dad better than my mum usually. Try bringing him to a football game or bonding with him one on one :)

Answer 10

Well of course, everyone likes one person more than another

Answer 11

yes, I have always favored one over the other, and my brother favored the opposite. My sister shows no emotion to anyone.  

Answer 12

Sure, kids will be closer to one parent or the other throughout their lives.  Don't be surprised if it changes over the years as the kids grow older and your relationship with them changes.

My oldest has always been mommy's boy, but number two is dad's.  Number three is funny because he follows mom around all day, but only gives daddy kisses.  We think it's a fair mix so far.

Answer 13

Well obviously they may prefer one parent to the other, BUT dont mean they love one parent more than the other.  

Answer 14

It's completely normal and can happen for a whole bunch of reasons. It could be who spends more time with them, who they feel more comfortable with, who pays more attention, who they "click" better with etc.

My 4yr son is the only one attached to my hip. He and I click the best out of all my children and he's constantly being called a Momma's Boy. He looks like me, talks like me, has the same personality and would rather spend time with me over my husband. In fact, he makes little comments to my husband all the time about how he doesn't do X enough for me lol. "Daddy, you don't help Mommy enough." "Daddy, you should do ___ for Mommy now." My 10yr and 8yr sons tend click better with my husband, for they enjoy similar activities and have similar personalities. Our 1yr daughter will go to whoever is the closest.

Don't worry about it. Think about all the people in your life you "click" better with over another. It doesn't mean you necessarily like them better over someone else.

Best Wishes =]

Answer 15

yes, my father won out every time =) im a girl so i think its something about mommys boy or daddys girl thing or my mum was just a devil.

Answer 16

Yes it happens. I think it's because there's things you do with them that they appreciate doing with you and then there's things they do with your spouse that wouldn't be the same if they did them with you. The parents personalities and hobbies play apart.

Answer 17

Yeah, it is normal.  Usually it is the girls that prefer daddy and the boys that like mummy, I don't know why (I doubt very much Freud is right).  Why don't you just try and get to know your lad better, my boyfriend can't wait to have a son that he can teach carpentry and take on fishing trips and that - it could be fun!

Answer 18

I was always a daddies girl and wanted to spend every possible moment by his side and doing things with him.

I loved my mum just as much as my dad though its just a personality thing i guess

Answer 19

yes, i think that because the mother is the one who really takes care of the child more than the father

Answer 20

LOL..I know how you feel, my daughter is such a daddies girl that I can barely do anything with her. I would not take it personal. I have four boys and one girl, and I have come to the conclusion that it pretty much depends on the personality of the child :)

Answer 21

its ok to feel bad i would too, maybe u should try spending more time with him, do a sport w/ him or something

Answer 22

Yes it is part of childhood development. If taken to extreme it could be classed as an Oedipus complex but unless it grows into a serious problem don't worry about it.

Both parents supply something that the child requires and identifies with and is in fact a dress rehearsal for later in life.

You mention your other kids but all children are different.

Answer 23

Im a mummys girl & my sister is daddys girl

xxxx

Answer 24

honestly you have nothing to worry about, my dad was probably thinkin the same thing as i was the biggest mommas boy ever, but no im sure the kid loves you, if you work and she doesnt its natural for him to act a little closer to her. so no most kids love their parents the same unless you go beating them or your kids a little a*****e

Answer 25

Girls often want to be "Daddy's little girl" they will do anything they can to get his attention. Mommy's are the star in a boys eyes. I don't know why this is but the only time I have ever seen a change in this is when the children are raised by a single parent. My two older children ( 4, and 3) are from a different relationship they are all about me when my fiance says anything to them they ignore him and come to me. Our son on the other hand who is one only wants me when we go out somewhere (my mom's). Daddy gets ignored for the most part.

Try taking some time to do things alone with your son that he likes, fishing or ball or even to a movie. Hope this helps

Answer 26

Im sure at that age children can't love one parent more than the other. Its just the classic "Daddy's Girl" and "Mummy's Boy". I don't know why, but when I was little I was a right daddy's girl...now Im both, I love both my parents the same and get on with them both equally as well :) My just-teenage brother can be a bit of a Mummy's boy when his mates aren't around, and my 9year old brother is the biggest mummys boy I have ever seen! Lol.

My cousin who is 3 is always by my uncles side, he cannot go anywhere without her. She has seriously got him wrapped around her little finger!  

Im sure as children grow older it starts to even out, unless theres single parenting envolved, which in your case it doesn't sound like there is.

Just make sure you treat your son the same as your daughter, and vice versa for your wife.

Maybe you should go on days out together for a picnic in the park or something as a family, or maybe you could do an activity with your son and your wife with your daughter.

Answer 27

I think it's just a daddy's girl/mommy's boy thing. I'm a daddy's girl and my brother is a mommy's boy. My brother doens't like my dad as much as my mom and I don't like my mom and much as my dad.