Normal behaviour?

Every day, DH is at work well before Alyssa is awake and so she doesn't see him until later in the evening when he's home from work. Not too late, usually around 4:45pm.

The thing we have always noticed is that she really rejects him, and sometimes even cries like he's a stranger if he tries to interact with her too soon after walking through the door. She will eventually warm up to him again enough so that I can leave her with him and have a shower in peace in the evening. He is bummed because he'd love it if she would just be happy to see him and give a cuddle, and we know one day she'll probably end up favouring him, just now it's hard.

Is she just not seeing him enough? I mean, she's pretty obviously a mummy's girl, but I don't see many other kids her age having a problem with one of their parents?

Rhiannon is the same, for about the first 5-10 mins after seeing DH, sometimes longer. and then its all good, i think is just a phase. Rhi spends all day asking for daddy, from the very moment she wakes up.

DH walks in the door, says hi to me, says hi to Rhiannon then heads up to the bedroom to get changed etc, and depending on she is feeling is to whether she follow or not.

I also make DH spends loads of time with Rhi during the weekend as well.

Its hard, but your right one day, shes gonna be a daddys girl

I agree with Deez, maybe it is a girl thing?
As soon as dad comes home T goes running yelling daddy home daddy home. When mum gets home he does nothing
I wonder if some 1 on 1 time together will help them? Would give you some time to yourself too

pretty sure both teh boys were over 2 when they started to get excited to see their daddy come home. Now it is all daddy, daddy and running out the door. but yeah early on they didnt seem to care either way. I think from memory hubby used to always say hello and acknowledge them but wait till they wanted to interact with him too...

I don't think its a girl thing- both of mine are obsessed with their Dad. Kate wiggles and squeals the moment she hears him come through the door- she even cries if he doesn't come and acknowledge her within the first minute or so. Charlotte runs up yelling 'Daddy, Daddy, Daddy" then Koala hugs his legs and won't leave the poor guy alone until she gets made to go to bed! Both have always been so OTT when it comes to him

Has she always been like this with him? What kind of things do they do together when he does have her?

If its something that is really bothering you both maybe you could look at doing some positive association for a bit. You could even get him to bring home the odd treat for her- a little toy or sweet. For family days you could go to the Zoo or park and you take a back seat and get him to do all the fun stuff with her. When he has time with her in the evenings make him play a game with her- something she really enjoys.

My girls see DH as the fun one- I play with them too but their time together in the evenings is pretty much only fun and games, I think thats why they adore him so much!

Plus studies have shown that fathers who bath their children more than 4 times a week have a closer emotional bond than those who don't (was in 'Child of Our Time')- so if he isn't already doing bath time then it might be something that could help things.

Michaela was the same when I was sahm and my DH worked. It was almost like she was punishing him for leaving her during the day but forgave him after 5-10 mins then I may as well have not existed at all.