My Son - Beachwood,NJ

Kids often express more affection and say "I love you" more often to a person other than the mother. They sort of take Mom for granted, and they feel that the love is understood. It's an unbreakable bond and they often don't feel the need to reinforce it because they think it's a "given".

Working moms never feel they have enough time for their children. Try not to feel guilty - I know it's difficult. But I don't think that's why he's not saying it. My son didn't say it much either. He was much more open with my husband.

Just keep reminding him that you love him. You can comment when he says he loves Grandma that "It's so nice for you to say that. Everyone needs to hear that they are loved. You like it when Grandma and I tell you we love you, right?" But don't nag him and say "Why don't you tell me you love me? I'm sad." You have to stop short of that, because otherwise the children clam up or they are just saying it because you've "demanded" it, and that doesn't feel good to the parent! It's not the child's job to keep the mom happy.

Kids have a funny way of showing love.

Once a week spend 30 mins at least un interrupted- not internet, tv, etc. go in the yard play ball, get an ice cream cone.. let him know he is your world..

By the way, he does love you- he just takes it for granted.

I can sympathize. My mother babysat my oldest for the first 3.5 years of her life while I worked. My daughter became very attached to my mom and would even cry when I came to pick her up in the evenings after work. To this day (she's now 11 yrs old) she has a very close bond with my mom. She calls her every day and especially when she's mad at me. If she's unhappy about something, she will talk to her Nana about it before me. It's hard.

Try to spend quality time with your son when you're not working. Play with him, have him help you cook and clean, read bedtime stories to him, take him with you on your weekend errands. This is what I did when I was working. I gave up any free time I might have had to spend with my daughter.

Can you and he have a mother-son "date" once a week where you do something really special just the two of you?

Of course he is closer to the person who spends more time with him. Grandma is there when he needs her. She sees to it that he's being cared for. At age 6 your son knows that she is there for him. You need to stop looking at your mom as competition for your son's affection and think of her as a partner in raising him to be a good person.

Being a working mom doesn't mean you don't have a relationship with your child. Heck I was a working mom with 4 kids and they all knew that I was there for them. The key is to make sure your free time is spent with them. You have to work certain hours but having them know that you will be there for them once you get home to concentrate on their needs goes a long way.

Spend the time you do spend with him special. Do things he likes to do. Have a hobby or activity that you can do together. Don't focus so much on the words he says. Focus on your actions during the time spent together.

Spend some alone time w him this weekend to bond.

It's very common, and rest assured, they do grow out of it. You and Grandma need to enforce that you are his mom. He can't be calling Grandma a similar name to Mom. He can call her "Granny,""Grandma,""Nanna," ect. but not "ma," "mama," "mom,""mum," etc. This is very important. It happened with my elder sister, because Grammy was watching her DS while she was at work, which makes it seem like she's the one that take care of him most of the time. It just happens. It doesn't mean he doesn't love you, even if he kicks and screams and doesn't want to go home. He's just confused. Also, interact with him in a possitive way as much as you can.

My son and husband had the same problem. What helped is daddy and son found a video game that they both enjoy ("little big planet"). It's educational, fun for both of them and it's just THEIR time together. That special time helped a lot. And daddy makes an effort to connect and do something with him only. It takes work cause daddy's in med school, but the kids DO get it. He knows you love him, and he loves you. But you DO have to make some time for him regularly.