From the start, my daughter was a mama’s girl. In her first year it made sense since I was the milk machine, but she still strongly favors me. Don’t get me wrong. The fact that she adores me FILLS MY HEART with joy! But recently the favoritism for me over her daddy has gotten out of hand.

It started as she hit 2 1/2 years old. I do pick-up and drop-off with Charlotte, so to help me out, Luke would get her up and dressed in the mornings while I got myself ready. He would make her breakfast, and we’d head for daycare at 7:40 a.m.

But then the anti-Daddy sentiment began, and mornings looked more like this:

• 6:15 a.m. Mom gets up. Showers, gets dressed, and starts her makeup.
• 7:00 a.m. Dad gets up. Showers and gets dressed.
• 7:15 a.m. Dad wakes Charlotte up. She screams, “No! No Daddy. Go away to me! Don’t want you. Mom! Mom! Mom!” Lots of kicking. Throws her potty seat in protest. Goes limp on the floor. Does NOT allow him to dress her.
• 7:20 a.m. Dad walks away defeated. Mom, half-mascaraed and with sopping wet hair, takes over. Dad gets breakfast.
• 7:30 a.m. Mom distracts Charlotte with Curious George while frantically blow-drying her hair.
• 7:40 a.m. Dad puts Charlotte’s shoes and coat on in a fit of flailing and yelling.
• 7:45 a.m. At least five minutes behind, we put pouting toddler in the car, and I drop her off at daycare.

And… breathe.

What is a daddy to do when his perfectly sweet and loving child all of a sudden seems to despise him? And, what’s Mommy to do when she knows Dad is kind, involved, and wonderful to his little girl, but for some reason she is totally over him?

Well, the answer is… I don’t know. During this phase, she would hate on Daddy at all hours of the day – not just in the mornings. She would freak out if I left, or if Daddy fed her dinner or wanted to read her books at bedtime. It was ridiculous. Has anyone else experienced this?

It left me doing everything by myself, and it left my poor husband feeling like a failure. I think we’re on the upswing, however. I do think (or rather, hope) it was just a phase. Mostly, now she just doesn’t want to get up in the mornings AT ALL, no matter who gives the wake-up call. It’s all a process, isn’t it?

I have to give my hubby credit. He’s been patient throughout these Daddy-hating days. He tries not to take it personally, and he’s tried many strategies to get back in Charlotte’s good graces. Just earlier this week, we’d had a particularly rough morning. I usually pick her up from daycare, but he decided to leave work early, pick her up himself, and take her to Dairy Queen for some daddy-daughter time. They apparently discussed being nice and cooperative for mommy AND daddy over their cups of M&M-sprinkled soft serve.

P.S I’ve asked around, and it sounds like this temporary dislike for one parent or the other is fairly common. This too shall pass, mamas (and dads). My advice would be to stay in it together, ensure your child that the other parent loves them too, and maybe have the less popular parent spend quality time with the child when he or she is in an especially good/cooperative mood.

What not-so-pretty phases have you gone through with your kid?