How do I handle this?

MrsEllis10

I have a 20 month old and 8 month old. I also keep a 17 month old 4 days a week. She lives with her mom and her dad lives 4 hours away and she sees him every other weekend and holidays, etc. the mother and father were never actually together in a relationship. Well her mother had a boyfriend for 4 months and spent a lot of time around her and the mother. They broke up last week and now she is clinging to my husband when he is home. Let me explain....
My husband works in a restaurant so he doesn't go to work until 2 in the afternoon and has off some days all day when I have her. When he is here he plays with her and our kids. She obviously likes him and wants nothing to do with me when he is around. Which is fine by me, but now this week since the boyfriend isn't around she is crying anytime my husband is around and wants him to hold her and literally is crying every time I try to talk to her and she pushes me away when I try to comfort her.
I just put this theory together about her missing the boyfriend a little while ago thinking that's the only reason for the behavior change.
I'm obviously going to tell the mother, but how do my husband and I handle this? Do we give in and him hold her or just let her cry? I'm at a loss.

dairygirl19

I say let the poor little kid work through it on her own. If your H has the time and energy to play with her, by all means let him. If he doesn't/has other stuff to do distract her and let her "deal."

I'm sure she's having a hard time with all the transitions in her life, so be sympathetic.

I don't see the big deal really at this point.

Also, it could be the age. My LO who has her parents around a good share of the time goes in streaks where she only goes to males and streaks where she only wants females no matter who they are. She usually moves on sooner than later.

memali26

dairygirl19:

I say let the poor little kid work through it on her own. If your H has the time and energy to play with her, by all means let him. If he doesn't/has other stuff to do distract her and let her "deal."

I'm sure she's having a hard time with all the transitions in her life, so be sympathetic.

I don't see the big deal really at this point.

Also, it could be the age. My LO who has her parents around a good share of the time goes in streaks where she only goes to males and streaks where she only wants females no matter who they are. She usually moves on sooner than later.

I agree with all of this. I would just continue as normal as far as him playing with the kids.