I think it depends how you look at it. Example - my youngest prefers daddy for just about everything, from boo-boos to books to pouring his cereal. I must say it's a relief. It's really hard to be everything to a child. As long as you can remember that as parents you actually function as a unit rather than individuals you'll be able to appreciate that you are married to a man who is a great dad.

Well said.

It varies from time to time in our household. Our son goes to the one who isn't yelling at him. He is a very demanding child. It is a good thing that he is cute or we would have traded him in! (just kidding)

Overall our son is a Mama's Boy. He is the monster I created. Our oldest wanted Daddy all the time...or at least she calmed down for him best. Our second it was me. She wouldn't have hardly anything to do with Daddy til she was almost 3. Each kid is different. I think I would be jealous and guilt ridden if my child went to daddy over me ALL the time.

I cannot relate to this at all, not having childeren and not remembering my toddlerhood very well. I think I was the kinda kid who went to Mom for certain things and Dad for others. I didnt think it was any different for anyone until I read the article. All i can say is that both my parents have short tempers, but my mom is less practical than my dad. My dad is more leanient and seems to understand me alot more. I favor him alot more now.

Both my kids prefer Mom, but then again I do too, so I can't blame 'em :)

classic example of the Elektra complex.

Nice job of stating the obvious. No offense intended of course. I really am not in agreement with Freudian theory, though, as far as attributing developmental stages exclusively to sexual drives.

I know that I refused to nurse so they had to give me a bottle, but my mom never pumped. It was formula from day one. I always preferred my dad, and he was my primary caregiver for a portion of my childhood. I didn't reject my mom, but I always have been a daddy's girl.

As a stay at home Dad I go through this a lot, and I wonder how my staying home will affect my boys in the long run. I don't think their gender roles will be too skewed, they know I cook, that mommy and I share cleaning, that if something needs fixed to come to me, and that mommy makes most of the money. They are both pretty well adjusted normal boys. My older son is VERY emotional, he was balling at the wedding we were in last weekend, but I'm very emotional as well, and I didn't have much of a handle at his age either.

When mommy comes home from work, they RUN to the door, but if she is distracted and doesn't give them her full atttention, they go bananas. I don't get jealous of their affection for her, they miss her, I miss her. They don't even THINK of pulling some of the stuff they do with her on me, they KNOW it won't get very far with me. They respect my authority and have learned to manipulate her feelings of not being there, and wanting to be the 'good time' parent. When I come home from work on Saturdays (if they are awake) they greet me with the same zeal (if not more) and I know they need my undivided attention.

Most kids at my son's school don't have 2 parents, let alone 1 parent at home, so they all think I'm pretty cool when I show up in the middle of the day to deliver forgotten lunch or homework. I hear my son proudly say "thats my daddy, he is a daddy and a photographer" and I have to fight back tears of pride. I've been pulling this stay at home parent duty for 6 years now, and I can't say it is for everyone. It is emasculating in the beginning, and you eventually need to be comfortable with yourself as man, caregiver, parent, grocery shopper, and diaper changer, but it is rewarding, especially when you realize the benefit your children recieve from having a full time parent.