Mama's Girl

...ony one thing to add to the good suggestions you've already received.

My momma's girl is 14 now and she was just like your daughter. (would cry every time I left the house alone, it lasted for a long time but eventually she became more indepented) And although she's still a mama's girl she also has a special bond with her dad.

Have your husband take her on "dates" ...litle special activies that are just for her and her daddy. Out for ice cream, a walk, trip to the playground --even the hardware store, ect. Dads are always the fun. And girls learn how they should be treated by men from their fathers.

Althought my daughter would rather go shopping she still looks forward to spending one on one time with her dad.

A.,

Allow your husband to interact with his daughter. If it's unpleasant to you (but not abusive) simply leave the room and let them carve out thier relationship.

If you're changing her surroundings and people for a month, you have the responsibility to make as much as possible the same for her. This may mean she's sewn on to your skin the WHOLE time, but, you know, that's the choice YOU made, not her, in leaving home and it'll be ok.

It sounds like you're stretched thin with a 3 year old and then twins. Think about HER life and reality having you completely absorbed with the other two, even when pregnant, because we all know baking two babies is different that just one. (unless it's adoption, in which case the change is overwhelmingly shocking to everyone)

I don't know your schedule and routine, so please forgive any suggestion that you're already doing; perhaps, every day you have a set time of just You and Her, before and after that, she has to share Mommy, but during THAT time it's JUST HER.

Back to daddy, you really do need to avoid setting up an oppositional parenting style. If you don't like how things are going, unless is actually dangerous, STAY OUT OF IT and talk to hubby alone later about how you'd like to handle it in the future. This will keep the unified front your children need for respect and security, it will avoid the all too popular game of pitting one parent against the other and seeking for an answer they like when one parent has already spoken, it will help you to discuss it with wisdom rather than emotion, avoid sending the messages that you're their to save the children from daddy and that daddy is some from whom they need saving as well as the message to your husband that he's an idiot, the pause in time may also show you than your first reaction may have been off track--it happens all the time, my husband will be dealing with something and I begin to feel protective because of whatever and then in the end I'm so glad I didn't interfere because he handled it well and better than I would have. Some of the best relationships come from DEEP carving of boundaries in the beginning...since this is a relationship of a lifetime and beyond, let them figure it out on their own terms so long as no one is being damaged.

Definitely a difficult situation. I had the same problem. I think it is important to work on letting your husband help. You can leave the room and just say this is Daddy's turn or Daddy's job. Discuss before hand with your husband what he and you should do, so your daughter starts to understand that only Daddy does this and that, and you do the other things. Fits are difficult, but stick to your guns, and be consistent. If she throws a fit, put her in the bathroom, or somewhere, and say unlshe stops she may not come out. If she comes to the door and opens it even if she is done screaming, she needs to be told she has to wait till you come and get her, but the faster she stops the faster you can get her. Do not talk to her if she opns the door crying, just put her back in and close the door. But be consistent. I am not an expert, but this worked with my daughter who is VERY strong willed.

My kids have gone through phases like this and I love my husbands response to it (every time). He always tells me that the kids should favor me - I am the one who is there for them day in and day out, I sacrifice more and in turn they naturally trust me more. During these phases they are great with him when I am not there but when I am around, nothing else will do. My husband knows the phase will pass and so he supports the kids (and me) through it. I would suggest being patient and let the phase pass.

I believe there is great power in talking with your kids no matter how old they are. I used to tell my 3 month old that he was going to stay with a friend and that mommy would be back to get him soon - a.k.a. he was going to stay with a babysitter. It may silly to tell a 3 month old anything passed simple talk but they hear and understand. Talk with your daughter positively about your husband. Tell her nice things that your husband has done for you and her and the family. Start talking about your family and how wonderful they are. Talk about them helping eachother. Show her pictures or video of your family and help her get to know them before you visit. Tell her about things that you will do and the room she will sleep in. Tell her about what she will do to help while visiting. Keep talking with her and I think you will be surprised and how she will respond. She need assurance that she can trust others, even when you are there.

Good luck.

Keep having time with just she and her dad. My kids are almost four and seven and still do this when they visit their dad and are fine if I am not around. It is normal.
As far as helping, ALWAYS tell her firmly, "you try yourself first and I can help you if you really need it, you are a big girl". Encourage that all the time. I babysit a almost 3 year old that doesn't dress himself, had his mom put his shoes on and so forth, I refused and told him to try himself, sure enough he got it and we made a huge deal out of him being a big boy, he now does it himself even at home. Don't enable her by always jumping when she asks for help, even if she pitches a fit. Don't worry so much about what anyone thinks as much as what an important lesson you are teaching her. If she knows you will always help she will not gain the independence she really needs. A three year old should be able to dress themselves,feed themselves, put their own shoes on and help even brush their teeth (with supervision). Just stand firm and don't worry what your family thinks, it is normal three year old behavior just really make a big deal out of when she tries herself and make her proud of herself trying. The best gift a parent can give is helping a child grow and you will do that by not always doing everything for her. When she does it herself it will end the battles on who helps her!!!

i think that you need to nip this one in the bud before the twins start reacting like that. Right?? for everytime she lets her dad help i think you should praise her. in our house with 4 kids 2 boys and 2 girls they always come to mom and it took mom a long time to start saying "hey you know that man over there is your dad and he would love it if you ask him to help you" here is an idea -- you can say that you don't know how but daddy knows how -- go ask him. the more you give in the harder it will be when you go visiting. start a routine with it now so that she is used to it and knows what is going to happen and who will be taking care of her . there will be enough confusion with all the new places and new people around then it will comfort her to know what will be happening in her own family circle. plus it would help if he spent more time with the twins so that she could start fighting for his attention. best of luck

Well now I can't say as I have had that problem. I had three boys.
But here is a suggestion. YOU have Daddy help you with several things and praise him for it. Do this alot and see if that doesn't help.
Other than that A., I can't think of anything other than forcing her to let him help and that would probably start a resentment. So just ask Daddy for help in several areas and see if that doesn't change her attitude towards Daddy's help.
Right now she has alot of sibling rivalry going on and that is why she wants you all the time. So be patient and tolerant of her feelings. The twins I am sure take alot of your time and attention. She does it to get her share of attention. LOL
Good luck.

first of all " no dada do" ? She is 3 talk to her like a person not a baby. Second of all she needs to know she is not eventually going to get her way which is exactly what is happening she is minipulating you both with this. When she does these things she should be told that dad will help her or she will do herself. dont discuss it dont argue about it dont let your husband discuss or argue about it. Mom doesnt have time or cant help you right now, daddy will help you or nothing. Dont try to reason with a three year old it is not going to work. if she throws a fit the adults leave the room and let her have her tantrum she still wont get what she wants. Give her the choice if she throws a fit walk away both of you. It only takes a few times.

don't give in. if it drives you crazy, say "mom needs to take care of something else" and leave

give her two choices that you can live with the "consiquence of what she chooses" for example you can have daddy help you or you can go in time out first and then daddy will help you.
or do you want daddy to help you pick up your toys? or do you want to help daddy pick up your toys?
it might sound kind of silly but it really does work. they want independence and to feel their voice matters if you give them choices they make a decision and it empowers them. If she then says I want mom. Say unfortunately right now that isn't one of the choices, and then repeat her choices. it might take a few times but being consistent it will really pay off.

I love it how you say, A., "there is always room for improvement!" There is, really, and we adults learn tons of things from the kids: they are our best teachers, actually, starting with the first most important lesson: they teach us PATIENCE.

I wrote so many different advices about how to avoid fits, may I suggest you to go to my name place in this site, and look by the titles, where it is about such things, there is not only my advice, but so many other good view points, hints and knacks :)
because I really do not know what would fit right into your situation...
Sadly, in the great site, we do not have such a place where the similar questions and responses would be collected... so, I usually find similar situations just like I suggest you to do...

but if you want to talk to me, you can write me also, and I will definitely respond, as my experience of raising three happy people, plus working in school for years, gives me some point of reference to talk about, really...

Goos luck to you, and all the best, Audrey!

Well I know how you feel my dd is 2 and she switches on who she wants to do what and does the whole screaming and the tantrums occur. My dh does not have the patience for it and thats what drives me nuts and i used to intercept it. Well I stopped that because my dh thought he had to interfere when I was disciplining and now my dd doesn't listen to me on that part. My suggestion is whoever is taking care of it should be the one to deal with it if its getting a drink to disciplining. That way she doesn't get confused who does what. If she throws a tantrum I give time outs outs or send her in the room until shes ready to talk normally. I hope this helps and gl.

I think it is something with this age. My son only wants daddy. If I try to do something he gets angry and yells at me. At first it really hurt my feelings until I realized he was going through his "daddy" stages. I just back off and when he wants me to over daddy I jump at the chance. I believe it is just a faze and it will change as she gets older.

Yep, been there..still there! My 4 year old is like that, especially when she's tired or hungry. I've finally had to appeal to her sense of fairness. She understands taking turns, so I've been telling her "It's Daddy's turn." Sometimes I have to whisper in her ear about how sad Daddy is when she doesn't let him have a turn to brush her teeth, read her story,snuggle her at bed time, etc. I think whispering makes it like when I whisper to her during playtime at friends house to remind her about sharing toys. Good luck.