My Toddler Likes Daddy Better Now!

My Daughter Liked Daddy Better 
(for like a day...but still!)

I was the apple of my little toddler's eye at the beginning of our holiday vacation travels; I was the first person that she turned to in any moment of discomfort and the first person in the room that knew how to make her smile.  I think about her future constantly - she's my reason!  (See Top 35 Life Lessons - From Mother to Daughter - a post I wrote for her in case I one day forget to tell her the things I wrote about in it).

But somewhere between the endless love and affection of her grandparents and her aunties, and the plane rides to and from our visits to our relatives' homes (in which she sat on Daddy's lap the entire time), it seems that this Mommy has lost the glorious, prestigious status as the "Number 1" person on my toddler's VIP priority list.   I am now a far second-place to "Daddy" in the eyes of my child.  

I Heart Dad Jumper...of course.

Mommy is not happy about this.  

Have I tried bribing my toddler with ice cream?  Maybe.

But I should be happy for her daddy, right?  He's funny, he's fun, and he is one hell of a tickle monster.  He has even taught her how to turn off/on light-switches, which has become her absolute favorite thing to do on a daily basis.  I understand that Daddy-and-daughter bonding is a wonderful part of life (bla bla bla).  But when did mommy become chopped liver?!  Am I not fun anymore? (No, that can't be it...)

Mommy can flick light switches on and off too!

As my own dad used to say to us when we were kids, during times that he felt unappreciated: "I guess I'm just an old shoe...."  (Envision this phrase spoken in a voice that is similar to that of Eeyore, the Donkey, from Winnie the Pooh.)

Do I have an "unhealthy" level of enjoyment over my toddler's rather significant (prior) attachment to me?

----Yes, I do. (But that's another article.)

The main point here: How did Daddy sneak up behind me so fast in the "favorite parent" race?!  

Now, when I walk in the door - I am lucky to get so much as a smile from my toddler - it's as if I get a brief acknowledgement of a "head nod"  from my toddler, as if to say "'Sup Mom" like I did to my mom as a teenager.  Now, my little daughter shrieks if her daddy so much as sets her down - not even I can comfort her anymore!  

I am the primary parent!

It just seems so unfair!  I prepare all of her meals (I even blog about the meals I prepare for her!).  I change 98% of her diapers.  I do all of her laundry, and I sort all of her clothes (making sure to only buy her the comfy clothes).  I work round-the-clock! I do all of the grocery shopping.  I am the dedicated mom that you will finding standing in line at Wal-Mart's Customer Service Counter at 10:30 pm on a Tuesday night because I am returning the Vick's humidifier that didn't lived up to my high-standards that I have for my toddler's health and comfort.  (See the post You Know You Have a Newborn When... for more on my Wal-Mart adventures)

Here are a few of my theories as to how this happened:

• She slept on Daddy's lap for the entire plane rides. (Bonding) 
• Daddy has always been really good with kids, and now that she is older, I am seeing his talent that has been hidden up to this point in our relationship.
• Daddy wears amazing-smelling cologne.

I'm not mad; I'm just [pause] disappointed.

The irony of this all: what I would have done for this type of daddy-daughter bonding when my little one was a newborn.  I was a tired mess!  Now I just miss her!

Please share your experiences or thoughts on this matter in the comment box below!

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