Help,
My son has been reluctant to come with me for the last 2 pick ups now. Although it was quite early in the morning on both occasions (6.45am), but I still find it baffling as he is always happy around me and sometimes says he doesn't want to go back to mums. I know kids are very funny and clever....one day its mum, the next its dad... but my ex has been using it as a weapon of spite which really gets on my last nerve, because she never gets to see how we have fun together.
I am putting this down to the time of both pick ups....perhaps too early for him and all, but it still hurts a bit. He is 4 and like any Father, he means everything to me. This morning he was like that too and i told him off when he finally got into the car. 5 mins later, we are best buddies again... actually piggy-backed him into his Breakfast club this morning. He once told me I had taken too long to come get him for sleep over but that wasn't my fault; as I had to go to London to see my family and his mother refused when i asked to take him with me.
Maybe I am thinking about it too much but just want to know if this is quite common.
Thanks Dads
Hi MannyM,
I don't think you need to worry too much. It is pretty normal and this sort of behaviour is used caused by a change in routine which is causing the child to be emotionally unsettled. Chances are, he/she won't know why they are unsettled, but there's just "something" which is making them emotionally unstable.
Give it time. Always be there on time, and never let them down. Before long, it'll become habit and they will settle down.
Finally, don't waste energy on stuff you can't control. You ex might be talking about you as if you are the devil incarnate. It doesn't matter, because you can't change that. All you can do is keep to your commitments, love the child as naturally as you can, and talk positively about the child's mother no matter what. When they are old enough to understand, they will make their own mind up.
I hope things improve for you - I'm sure they will.