My 4-year-old always wants Dad and pushes me away whenever I try to comfort or help them. I try not to take it personally, but it’s really starting to hurt my feelings. I don’t want to force affection, but I also don’t want to feel like I’m the rejected parent. Has anyone else gone through this, and how did you handle it?
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PT-TheJohnsons | March 12, 2025, 10:16 p.m.
Region: Dublin 19 | Age group: Not specified | Type: Asking help
maartenridder June 25, 2025, 2:47 p.m. wrote:
This is indeed tough. Important to remember here is to understand that the child indeed does not mean it personally (they respond out of instinct instead of knowledge). Possibly the Dad simply is more frequently around on defining but often simple moments. The "fun" moments, getting in/out of bed, breakfast/lunch/diner and/or bath times. Maybe he is doing more of the school drop offs and pick ups and gets more 1:1 exposure to your 4-year old that way. One option is to give this some thought and potentially take over some of these important and "fun" moments to work on a closer bond through that.
That all being said, kids they at times 'go with the wind' and this could simply be something temporary as well. Important in both cases remains not to take this too personally and not take it out on the child.