For the non-preferred parents here…

Hang in there. I was always the non-preferred parent. My son preferred Dad from about 7 months old on. It wrecked me. He even flat out said he “likes me a little bit but loves daddy a lot.” I would cry behind closed doors but just kept showing up and being authentic and present.

He’s four now and prefers my husband and myself equally. He just looked at me a bit ago and said “You’re a good mommy. I love you a lot. You’re such a good mommy.” I could have never imagined him saying that at 18 months or 2 or even 3. But we’ve gotten here. I never thought it would end but it did. Hang in there.