DS just turned 2 and has been going through a crazy clingy phase. We went on vacation with my parents when he was exactly 23 months, and he refused to be held or touched by anyone other than DH or me. He already had a huge daddy preference, which I get (I am a SAHM, so he's with me a lot) but he used to be obsessed with my dad and love my mom. Now he wants nothing to do with them. The past few days (like, when he hit 24 months) he has been less crazy clingy, but he's still not into my mom and dad (he sees them/spends time with them a few times a week).
As for this being influenced by big changes- he just started school 2 mornings/week, but this phase began 3 weeks prior to that. Obviously vacation was a change in routine, (and he is very into his routine) what with the rental house, new room, seeing grandparents all the time instead of every other day in his own space, daddy around constantly instead of at work, but now we are home and back to normal and he's still being cold to my parents and not letting them hold him, even when DH isn't here.
ANY SUGGESTIONS? Or commiseration? I feel SO BAD (my mom is particularly upset by it, which I just can't even deal with.)
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BUMP !
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Welcome to 2!
I kid, sort of. That's sort of par for the course, unfortunately. I have a 2 year old (25 months) and he's like living with a manic person. Separation anxiety peaks around this time, so I'd just roll with it and remind your mom that she can't really be upset at a toddler (thought damn they make it easy to want to be). It'll change as quickly as it began. I would just encourage your parents to interact with him and not push him.
I did also take this opportunity to remind my parents that he has every right to not want to be held by them and to have preferences. It was the first time he was actually exerting his independence (in this way) and everything I read seemed to indicate that we should encourage it, not tell him that he couldn't feel his feelings.
Along with the clingyness he also started noticing who was around and who wasn't around - i.e. if my husband was late from work he'd say, "where my dada?" I think mentally so much is going on and they are "clinging" to routine. In that case, the vacation and change up could have played a role.
ETA: Sorry about the jumbled thoughts. We've been struggling with this, if you can't tell
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Ughhhhhhhh we struggled with this as well... Except DD only loved Mommy. DH was crushed and I felt terrible for him. I tried to tell her that we were all best friends but she just wasnt having it. My ILs were pretty upset about it and would try to make her hug and kiss them- when I saw how uncomfortable she was I just let her make her own choices. Now that she knows she doesn't have to play with or touch anyone, she is typically at least polite if not warm.
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