Daddy’s Girl

Daddy’s and their daughters have a special bond – someone told me this when I was pregnant. I didn’t really know what it meant until now, when I can definitely say my little toddler is a Daddy’s Girl.

He was away for a few days recently and the look of excitement on her little face when she she heard him coming in the door was priceless. She had a big beaming smile as she reached out to him for a cuddle.

I joke with him that I carried her for 9 months, then spent 24 hours a day with her for another 8 months, and still he’s the favourite!

It’s hard not to get a bit jealous and paranoid that she seems to prefer him, especially when she bites me on the arm then toddles over to him for a cuddle.

It’s not that he gives her more treats, or plays more or does anything differently. I don’t know what it is, but girls do seem to like their Daddy’s best at this age. I have happy memories of following my own Dad round the garden when I was little so I was the same.

But I don’t really mind, it’s lovely to see them happy together, and I’m so proud of them both.

To be honest it’s nice that I can have a bit of space without her always in my arms. I even occasionally manage to eat lunch out with both hands.

It’s nice too for him, because after just two weeks paternity leave he was back in work. When she was little I would have a lovely day with her but by the time he got home she was tired and ready for bed, so he missed out on a lot of the cuddles. It’s good that they’re now getting closer, so it feels like things are equalising, and we are a family team.

I know she still loves me and we have a lot of fun together. Today I woke up to a barrage of giggles and kisses. But for now I have to accept that when we’re all together she is a Daddy’s Girl and will sometimes want to be in his arms more, which at least leaves my arms free to get a nice coffee.