Hello!

My 2 year old is an angel all day – plays & eats nicely, takes directions well, give me lots of cuddles and is generally calm and happy :) BUT as soon as her father get’s home she turns into a little monster! Climbing on things she knows not to, throwing things, tantrums etc. Does anyone have an idea why and/or suggestions on how to make this time less dramatic? Do you have any clues as to why my toddler misbehaves when my partner gets home from work?

Posted by anon, 15/08/13

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  • Sounds to me she’s so super excited that she’s acting a bit silly and I wouldn’t call this misbehaving. She clearly would love the attention of her dad for a bit and it probably would calm her down when he spends some 1:1 time with her when he comes home after work.


  • Is daddy a softie? Is he on his device when at home? Maybe he can spend some device-free quality time with Miss Two so she doesn’t have to compete for his attention.


  • Is it an excitement/attention getting thing?


  • I would say the same as aprilb1. Maybe she just needs some time with daddy.


  • She’s probably really excited that daddy’s home, maybe he could sit down and play with her quietly when he first gets home or pick her up and talk to her for a little while it might calm her down :)


  • Maybe daddy could give her some jobs to help him when he gets home, the more attention you give her for this behaviour the more she will do it. Try to ignore it as much as possible.


  • It sounds like she is attention seeking. She has you to herself all day. She may be jealous of the time that you spend with him when he gets home and that is her way of expressing herself.


  • Maybe try get your partner to do more when they get home, including discipline but maybe bath/story/bed routine just to reinforce that they are a big prt of the child’s life too


  • By the looks of it, could it be attention seeking? Could be she’s tired of you (not nice, but nonetheless could be some truth in it) and wants some of dads attention. You could try one on one time with her and dad. Special playtime when dad gets home just for the 2 of them


  • People say ignoring them but it’s so hard ,she’s not center of attention,our 4yr old does this sometimes .Iittle give jobs eg Dads item away or get ready for bath .


  • It could be an attention thing. Many children act up as a way of getting a parents attention. Get hubby to play with her after work, spend time bathing her etc and see if there is any difference in her behaviour.


  • It looks like she is trying to get his attention. As he is away all day she doesnt see him. Does he interact with her when he gets home and for how long?


  • Hope she has settled down for you


  • do they have special time that they spend together? might just be seeking attention from her dad


  • how is she now? :)


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