I'm probably overthinking it but I'm concerned about my friend and her two year old. I babysat her son on Saturday afternoon, along with my daughter who is 4 months younger.
We had dinner and a bath then it was time for me to take him home. He begged me not to go. Asked me to be his mummy - over and over. Cried the whole drive home and was in hysterics when i handed him over. 20 minute tantrum before he calmed down.
My friend is a single mum - dad not in the picture and not much support. I know two year olds can be total jerks and I probably shouldn't be reading this much into it... but should I talk to her about it? Is it normal for toddlers to say they don't like their only care giver and want a new mum?
6 Replies
He probably just had a nice time with you and in typical toddler fashion threw a fit 😂
It sounds like it was getting late, he was probably tired, kids behave like complete maniacs when they're tired.
My then six year old told her friends mum that she wanted her to be her mum, I was bloody horrified but later she explained it was because she wanted her friend to be her sister lol.
If you've noticed other signs that things might not be OK then it might be worth asking your friend if she's coping alright.
If this is an isolated incident, I'd just put it down to him being a bit overwhelmed, kind of like when kids cry and lose it when they get picked up from daycare. Kids do weird things for absolutely no reason sometimes!
Yeah if he was having the nicest time he would have acted like that and said those things. Maybe offer more visits or a sleepover give mum a break and see if the novelty wears off he will probably miss her at bedtime.
Also if he doesnt have many close people other than mum then that special time with another adult is really precious to them.
My then 2 year old used to do the same, I remember once she did that so I let her stay for longer...the person looking after her called me later and I could hear my 2 year old crying for me so I went to pick her up and she was so happy to see me. When I got home she said she misses the person who babysat her lol. Normal kid behaviour and nothing to be concerned about if the child looks well fed and not abused in any way.
Yes it's normal. Probably bored with just him and Mum and was having fun with your little one and new toys etc. They don't like going home at 2 😂
I’m a single parent with one child. If I had a dollar each time I was told I wish xxx and xxx where my parents instead, I think I would be rich 😂
Usually it’s when been at a friends, over tired and I say no to staying longer. It’s also the novelty of having 2 parents around and “siblings”
My son wanted to be a girl once because he thought he would get to stay up longer 😂 true story. Kids will say anything to get what they want.