"I don't like mummy"

Cookie_monster_7

My 3 yr old has said this to me yesterday and again today. This time I can't stop crying about it because there is absolutely no reason for her to say it. ( I am pre-menstrual and haven't slept in 2 nights which might explain the crying) She doesn't understand the question "why?" yet so I can't get an explanation.

Could it be that other children at playgroup have said "I don't like so and so" and she is trying it out on me so she knows how to react to it?

Has anyone had this?

Fizzpop

I get this its normal only mine is from my 5 yr old and she says she hates me, usually its after ive had to rely on my parents to take her and her sister to school x

I dont think she is trying to hurt you as you have said its probably something she's heard at playschool, dont take it to heart hun hard i know but try not to x

Fitzio

Hugs to you. My daughter is too young for this, but didn't want to read and run. You obviously know that she doesn't mean it, but it's clearly upsetting nonetheless. Hope someone else can come along and reassure you soon.

Maybe just say similar things yourself so you can start stressing the difference until she gets what it properly means e.g. "Yuck, I don't like coffee, it's horrible" whilst screwing your face up etc.

JC9297

I would think at 3 you could ask her why she is saying that or ask her what does she mean. She is old enough to understand if you tell her it is not a nice thing to say and that it makes you sad.

heretolearn_2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8aprCNnecU


Try watching this. It might make you feel a bit better! Little kids don't realise how this sort of thing can hurt your feelings. She was probably just annoyed about something just as silly!

POPPYOSCAR

Just wait until she is 14 and tells you she HATES you when she can't get her own way!

Seriously though, don't worry about it, it is just a phase. I would personally take no notice and ignore it when she says this or she will realise that she gets a reaction from you and may play on it.

the_cat

She is probably copying the phrase because she has heard it at nursery or somewhere similar. She will have spotted some sort of reaction and is trying it out IMO

At 3 she is very unlikely to know what 'hate' is and although she will certainly 'love' you, she couldn't put it into words yet or explain it. To her they are just words, not feelings she can articulate

I agree with the above. Ignore it. She is looking to see if she gets a reaction. If she does, she is more likely to keep using it, both with you and with her peers

starnight_2

My DS used to tell me he hated me, especially after he was told off. I never asked him why because I knew he didn't mean it, even though it upset me. My response to him was always the same, when he said something like that I always said to him "Well, I love you."

Try not to let it upset you too much, at 3 she is still too young to fully understand how saying something like that would affect you. Or you could try explaining to her that its not a nice thing to say if you think she could understand that.

poppyolivia

I ditto the 'well I love you' bit..:)

jamsandwhich

One of my twins 'Loves Daddy More' on a regular basis and he alwasy has to sing them the last song at bedtime and I am regularly told to 'go away now Mummy' - don't worry about it as I feel she really doesn't know the true meaning of what she is saying.

Everything is very simple to a three yr old and maybe if she is feeling a bit off herself she puts it onto you! I would just give her a quick hug and kiss and tell her that you will always love her anyway.

morocha

Ohh obviously she does not mean it. My 3 yo DD last week told her daddy that she didnt love him, and daddy was heartbroken asking why... and why, she could not explain why then after me asking her why she would say such a thing, she said because he didnt play with her that day.