13 month child cries when mommy takes him away from husband-mother in law...

[Evelyna]

Hi!
I have a 13 month old son and lately (the last month or two) i have been facing a problem. My son deosn't seem to want to be with me much. He cries when i try to carry him away from his father's or my mother in law's arms!!! He NEVER smiles or seems happy to see me but acts like CRAZY when he sees them... I start feeling like a bad mother... and i don't know what to do... It doesn't feel SO nice when your own flesh and blood rejects you.
Can anyone tell me what this might be???
Additional info: My mother in law is also CRAZY about her grandson and is spoiling him rotten PLUS he gets ENORMOUS amounts of attention from her, something that does not happen at home, since both me and my husband are working and routine kicks in. As for mu husband, he is less a disciplinarian that i am and hardly says no... Can this be a reason???
Thank you in advance for your help!!!

[tmv]

That is very normal. But look on the bright side, they say that they are very seccure in your relationship to be able to seek others.  :-)   He still loves his mommy!

[jd1419]

My two boys--who are 2 1/2 and 4 will ask everyday to see their Papa Carl--He and his wife provide my day care while at work--but there are times that the kids are at home with me and hubby we discpline them and they say "I want to go To Papa Carls"  it is a way they get to go somewhere where the rules are different and things go more smoothly there.  They do not do any work untilthe boys are gone--so they get undivided attention all day long--of course at home that doesn't always work.  I do spend time with my boys  and try to let most of the house work go and not worry about it-- or go home at my lunch hour and try and do some-so when we get home at night they have my total attention.  Try and see if you can have hubby pitch in more around the house so that your little guy has fun one on one time with mom--not just the bed and bath routine---try and take him to a park and relax with him. See that you are going to get on his level and do crazy things with him.  he will lighten up and start to go to you more with ease.

[Cleveland Mom]

What you describe is pretty common.  Both of my kids went thru phases when they showed a strong preference to either myself or my husband when they were infants and young toddlers.  When their grandparents visited they would take to them and show a preference for them, they still do this in regards to their grandparents who live out-of-state.  Of course, their grandparents provide extra amounts of attention and fun stuff.  Don't worry about this its a phase and your son is much to young to form any lasting preferences at 13 months.  Best wishes...