Parental preference

Just need to vent, I guess. Sorry this is so long. My daughter is 27 months old. For well over a year now she has had a strong preference towards my husband. It started when I had to go deal with a family emergency. I was only meant to be gone for 3 days, but ended up really sick with covid, which meant I couldn't fly back. I was gone for a total of 10 days. She was only a year old then, and while I don't think she fully forgot me when I was gone (we video chatted every day), I always felt that time away from each other chipped at our bond. Ever since she has been OBSESSED with her dad. He really is a great dad - involved, present, silly, caring. We're both lucky to have him and I love watching them together. But it also breaks my heart that it's always him she wants when she falls or when she's ill, it's always him she wants when she wakes up at night. When I pick her up from nursery she's happy to see me, but she is OVERJOYED to see him. When I'm away for the day she asks where I am but then moves on, when he's gone for the day she asks about him constantly and says she’s sad without him. He's her primary source of comfort, safety and fun. Don't get me wrong, we definitely have our moments, but I'd say 90% of the time she only wants him. My husband and I have done a good job ensuring that I was still involved in all the daily stuff. We always take turns doing bedtime, bath etc, and by now she knows that "today is mummy's turn, tomorrow will be daddy's turn again". I also try to spend quality alone time with her whenever I can (we're both full time working parents). I KNOW it's normal. I KNOW I shouldn't take it personally. I KNOW it's wonderful they have such a great bond. I KNOW it's nice that I get a bit more time for myself. But the thing is, we struggled with infertility and went through multiple rounds of treatment to have her. I spent years dreaming of this little girl. Whenever my mum friends complained about not having a minute to themselves I would always sympathise (I do get it's freaking hard being the default parent!), but I would also think I would do anything to be in this position. And sadly I still feel that way. I just want to be her safe place. I just want to feel that I'm enough, and not just the leftover parent.