Toddler saying hurtful things

My toddler who is just turned 2 has started saying I don't love you mummy or won't give me a kiss or cuddle and it really hurts my heart even though I probabaly shouldn't take it personally. I'm a single mum so we're close and I'm naturally very upset by these things. I think he is super advanced for his age and shouldn't even really be talking in full sentences at the age he is so it doesn't help as sometimes he speaks but doesn't probabaly understand the complexities of his sentences but I really didn't think toddlers started saying this stuff until they were like 4 !!! Is it normal? It hurts even more as I've made it my mission in the last 2 weeks to start being on my phone less / cleaning less / present more when I am with him to ensure we have real quality time. I constantly take him nice places , for walks, soft play, coffee (babycino) dates and I feel like I am constantly worried what if he prefers being with his dad as he's the 'fun' one typically as he only has him fortnightly weekends so I have him 90% and also work and therefore of course I can't just do fun stuff with him ALL the time. If I ever do get cross (I'm human of course I do sometimes) even after apologising to him he latches onto it for a while afterwards is this normal? It's rare and most of the time I'm trying to be the best happy mum I can be but we all shout or get stressy with them sometimes.

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I’m a single mom. My son is 2.5 and sometimes I will say “I love you” and he says “no love you.” It breaks my heart but they don’t understand that. We have to understand they don’t mean it or they just might be mad at us lol. It won’t stop here..wait til the teens years lol. Sometimes he doesn’t give me affection but I have to respect his boundaries. It hurts and I want to give him kisses but what’s the example I set if he tells me no but I give the kisses anyways.? It’s just the toddler phase. If dad’s house is the “fun house” so be it. It isn’t our jobs to be fun all the time. It’s to protect, feed, love, etc. I have done this, don’t stress yourself out trying to be “fun.” Get play dough and do it in the house, get some chalk, get vinegar and baking soda and don’t a science experiment. We can do fun things without blowing a fuse in our brains trying to juggle EVERY THING. Why add more complexities to your plate?

@Kiyanna this 💯 🤍

My little boy went through a daddy phase when he just turned 2 ish I was so upset He’s 3 next month and definitely back to mummy phase again but sometimes I can’t even go for a quick shower without him trying to leave his dad downstairs and come and find me He will come back around, don’t worry!

Your 2 year olds language is so impressive. But toddlers are feral. They don’t know how to self regulate, every emotion is intense and they go to language that is extreme to get a message across. Comparing yourself to an absent parent who gets to come in for glory is not fair to yourself and to your kid. If you haven’t read about attachment, have a look into it. Our toddlers often offer up their worst to those they feel safest with because they are secure in their attachment. Hang in there, it sounds like you have the most beautiful relationship where he feels safe to express himself. Our kids also learn how to deal with hard emotions too. It’s normal for you to get upset and for him to be affected by it. Make it normal to talk about it too. How mummy got upset, how you shouted because the anger was too big for your body and that you are sorry. You’re doing a good job.

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