I Want My MOMMY!!!!!

Totally normal in my experience. Both my girls did this at this age, AND I'm a SAHM (mostly). At that age they both were on my hip, clinging to my legs, or "up my butt." I've sent them both flying across the kitchen by accidentally bumping them out of my way when I didn't know they were RIGHT there.

It's the age, and it's I WANT MY MOMMY. Who can blame them? We're awesome. ;-D

Both of my boys were just like that (and I stayed home with them).......but between 2 and 3 it all changed(when they start doing boy stuff togather). NOw they are 100% daddy's boys. So enjoy while you can:)

I think your husband's attitude is what is "abnormal" here. (sorry)
It's completely normal for little boys to be "all about mommy" at that age. as they get older, it will be all about daddy.
Your husband is definitely jealous.
If he wants his son to love spending time with him, and look forward to seeing him, then I suspect that he might just have to get himself involved in the playtime, the bath routine and the bedtime routine, right? Geez.

First of all, little boys particularly tend to prefer their mothers in the early years, but even more when the father isn't participating 40 to 50% in the daily care. Second, some children experience separation anxiety to some degree, some more, some less. Your son NEEDS your attention. It sounds like your husband has an issue that needs addressing. If he's jealous of his own son, something is not right with him! This may be a symptom of a greater problem. As for your son being "okay" before you arrive home, he may well have learned to cope with the situation, but he isn't necessarily happy with it. Children do adjust to whatever comes. Ask your husband to participate in a bath or some part of his daily care so that your son feels as cared for by him as he does by you.

If I can offer a different perspective - I'm a WAHD, and our son does the same thing.

It IS disheartening, but I keep telling myself that mommies relationships ARE different. It doesn't mean he hasn't enjoyed the day with me - but just that he's ready to see mommy again.

I didn't get to carry him for 9 months, but that's just how the genetic cookie crumbles.

But it still does hurt.

Totally normal. Especially if Dad isn't participating REGULARLY with bath/bed time routines/rituals. And also, take into consideration that there are normal/natural reasons that little kids gravitate towards their mommy... mommies are nurturers. There IS some nature to this stuff--it isn't weird that lots of little girls prefer dolls and lots of little boys prefer trucks. And little ones can easily be aware of who is more nurturing and comforting to be around. And it's YOU, Mom!
Nothing wrong with that. But if Dad is wishing his son would be more that way towards HIM, then he needs to start doing some of those nurturing activities. Even if he does them, however, he should be aware that it might not totally balance his behavior towards the two of you, since Dad will likely go about bed/bath time TOTALLY differently than how you do it. It'll be more of a playtime/down to business type vibe, than what you probably do. I'd bet on it.

This sounds like very normal behavior for your son. I am a SAHM and my daughter was the same way. Tell hubby not to worry because your son will grow out of it. It is part of the baby years.

My hubby told me he felt left out when my daughter was this way. Now she gives him just as many hugs and she always tells him she loves him too.

LOL! that's perfectly normal. I think dad might just be a little jealous. My son is like that as well as all the other kids in my family... boys anyway. Most of the girls prefer their daddies ;)

My husband says the same about ours being 'fine' until I show up. If he's sick or if I had to run somewhere and outright refuse to go by myself (everyone needs a break, if only to go to the store alone). But the second I'm in the house, my son wants me. It's not unhealthy at all.

My opinion is a lot of that also is bc your husband doesn't help out with the 'necessities'... feeding, bathing, etc... those form a bond and teach the child that you will be there and protect. You do both the fun and the Not so fun. A baby can see this and that's where their bond comes from. My opinion of course. My husband acted the same way. And fussing about it doesn't help one bit. I accepted it and moved on. LOL I just give him a nice 'honey do' list of Manly things, lol :)

Oh My, Hubby sounds a little jealous. Most kids cling to Mommy. That's just he way it is and its very normal. You are the nurturer and your son knows it. Kids act differently towards both parents. Just ignore your husband. I would make a point of telling him that your sons clinginess is normal. After all he is just a baby.

It's totally normal ~ my 3 y/o still wants me for everything! I know I have to take the first 10-15 minutes after getting home to just be with him, either snuggling on the couch or even just sitting with him and giving him my undivided attention, or he won't leave me alone :) I secretly love it!

Oh no! Sorry but your husband has it wrong.
It's perfectly normal.
It's a stage and it just has to run it's course.
My son wanted to be on my lap fairly constantly till he was 3 1/2.
When Dad started looking at fire trucks with him, and got him his own tool belt (he became Daddy's Little Helper), and started doing things together, he warmed up to Dad a whole lot.

Normal.

One way to get your son and his dad to develop a bond is to have them do things together without you.

Fun free time for you.

They go fishing or to play skee ball or ride bikes or whatever.

But WITHOUT mommy.

They develop their own "thing".

... and I'm probably petty enough that if hubby said "he was fine before you showed up" I would probably answer back "that's because he knows if he complains to you he'll be told to suck it up and won't get some lovin!...."

Good Luck.

Attachment occurs when children consostently have their needs met. 18 months is a significant point in a child's attachment because it's when they really realize their own dependence on you to meet their needs and also when they first begin to test a bit of independewnce (walking, etc) but rely on you to consistently protect them. Since you are the person who consistently meets your son's needs, your son is most attached to you and is reacting in an entirely appropriate manner. Be thankful that you have a well-attached child :-)

Ahhhh....just ignore those comments. My little one is almost 4 and clings to me for dear life...when I drop her off at daycare, when I pick her up, when other people come to our house, morning, noon and night....we are stuck together like glue. It does get a little annoying at times, especially if you're in a hurry or trying to prepare dinner. But...that's just the way it is for us. Look at it this way, if he didn't ever want you to hold him, pick him up, cuddle, etc...how would that make you feel? Just enjoy the attention now while you can. They don't stay little for very long.

My daughter was exactly the same way! Every day when I came home she would cling to me and start the whining. The babysitter always told me that she was not like that until I came in. I too felt bad; thought she didn't like me.

Come to find out, it's actually a compliment. They are whining at us because they feel the most secure with us. They know that they can whine to us, that we will feel bad for them, that we will comfort them, and that we will "listen" to them. It's like a husband and wife - you will tell your spouse things that you wouldn't say to anyone else. So with our children - they will whine to us because they know we care.

He clings because he misses you and he whines to you because he feels safe and secure enough with you to do so.

It is a back-handed compliment!

My son has never been like that. He likes to see both of us at the end of the day. He may even prefer my husband a little more. I think it's because we each do things with him, mu husband usually does bathtime and I put him to bed, though sometimes we switch off on the bedtime routine. I think your husband needs to spend more time taking care of him.

normal for the age. when mine were that age.. I usually cooked dinner holding one of them.

he misses you all day when you are gone.. this stage will pass.. by 2 or 3 he will be more independent and wont hang on you all the time..

little boys LOVE their Mommies!!!! at any age, but at that age it is more pronounced... in a year or two he will be all about Daddy

This is very normal. My daughter was like this too. Most of the time she prefered me over daddy, although sometimes she prefered him. She's 5 now and she still prefers me over her daddy. My husband does do a lot of things with her, but I definitely do more. I am the one who picks her up from the afterschool program every day, I am the one who helps her with her homework, I am the one who reads to her and I am the one who puts her to bed about 95% of the time.

Very normal, especially at that age. As he gets older and more independent and learns how to self-entertain, it will pass. Also, it is not unusual for a child to go through phases of preferring one parent over the other. The fact your husband seems to have little involvement, while you are meeting all of your son's needs, is the reason your son chooses you over your husband. And the whole thing about when your son is sick, and then he turns up the crankiness/whining once you walk in the door? That is very normal too!

If your husband continues to be uninvolved, then quite honesly your son (and any future children) will always turn to you to have their needs met. My husband is a good father but he typically only gets involved when I "assign" him to get involved (such as, "hey, instead of letting your 5 yer old daughter sit in front of the TV, why don't you go outside and play with her? Or take her to the park? Or take her for a bike ride?"). My now 17 year old knows this . . . so she looks to me for support, not her dad, and she has commented on his lack of involvement to me. It is very sad. This is the path your husband is heading down.