Should I start being less nice to my grandson?

My DGS age 7 goes through phases like this. Wants to come to my house then spends most of the time looking out of the window for daddy or mummy (whoever's in favour that day!) to come to get him. He often calls me Daddy or Mummy before he gets to Grandma, usually when he wants to draw my attention to something. His mum got very upset a while ago because DGS told her he only wanted his dad - she asked me what she was doing wrong and really needed reassurance. However next time DGS wasn't feeling well he only wanted his mum of course and dad felt pushed away!

Someone is playing US like an old violin.

Quite right farmor51!

When my DGD was 15 she moved in with us, said she had had enough of her parents! She stayed for a couple of weeks and then happily went back home. She is 16 now and turns up after school now and again. She stays for dinner and we treasure the time she gives us. Her 8 year old brother comes daily to us during his holidays, and every so often he packs a bag and tells us that he "may as well stay the night - no point going home as he is coming back the next day anyway" ! As someone who didn't have grandparents, I am really grateful that I can give my GC this experience, and as fo DH and me - well we are in Paradise! So enjoy and allow them to create memories that will help make them into wellbalanced adults.Spoil away, it is your duty!

Checks date. Not April 1st. Is this a serious question?

They all do it at one time or another, he's only 4 so I expect there will be lots more funny, upsetting and childish!! things he will say.

He is a wind up merchant and it is working a treat.

When my twin GD and GS were about 18 months, son-in-law sent me this text, "In our house today 'Gaggi, Papa',"repeat endlessly.

No - perfectly normal for a young kid to play off mum against dad, parents against grandparents and one lot of grandpqarents against the other. If you ever do tell him off or refuse him the sweets or expensive toy he's set his heart on, believe me he'll go home and tell M&D how Nan never lets him have anything and he's not going to see her ever again. So take it with a pinch of salt and don't change a thing.

When I was 5 I loved my teacher so much I told her I wished she was my mummy!
My real mummy was the best one I could ever have had. It's just that children have the wonderful ability to love more than 1 person intensely as they are so open and loving.
My 4 year old DGD loves both me and her Granddad (my 2nd hubby) but will run past me, ignoring my open arms to get to him and he's not even related by blood! I love watching them together and it doesn't bother me in the slightest that she adores him.
Her Mummy + Daddy -and we also - love the fact that DGD loves her childminder as much as she loves us. It's about being confident about your place in the lives of children and accepting that they don't think like we do with all our anxieties and worries. Let them express their love innocently without guilt - there'll be enough of that when they're adults!

Ps
What exactly is 'attachment parenting"

For goodness sake .... How can an adult take a little boys comment seriously???

As for following mummy's 'rules' .... Sorry but I can't even relate to that.

My daughter has sent me several videos of my grandson moaning "I want grandma" non stop. Kids are clever aren't they. They use these tactics when they're not getting their own way over some nonsense or other!!! I just say to my daughter "no thanks" "you can keep him". In other words we treat it as a joke and of no consequence.

Whenever I visited my son and family gd number 2 would rush upstairs to get some some stuff, as she put it, as she was coming back me for a few days. My niece also use to descend om our house after words with her parents but would ask to be taken back after a few days. Just keep it light hearted and all should be well

I agree with br0adwater, just say how he'd miss his mummy- infront if her and give her a boost- my daughter gets very anxious and insecure sbout her parenting so needs some encouragment too.

Well, it's all been said.
We had ourGS on Friday for a sleepover. He arrived at 3.45, we were expecting him at about 6, but apparently he'd stood by the front door as soon as he got home from school waiting to come to us!
On Saturday he was desperate to go home because they were doing something exciting so off he went without a backward glance.

It is a perfectly normal thing that children say- ignore or make a jokey reply.

I have a very close bond with my 2 year old grandson. I look after him whilst his mum works 2 days a week and, if they are consecutive days, he sleeps over. On a number of occasions he had called me mummy. He doesn't realise what he has said so I just reply "Mummy is at work". If I told my daughter I think she would feel hurt as she is a wonderful, caring mother. I would suggest ignoring what your grandson had said, mention nothing to his mother and, carry on as normal

But sadly, maybe he doesn't. Life with a stressed full time working mum may not be terrific. Perhaps the life at Grans house is less rushed and gives a better sense of comfort and security. I mean no disrespect to the mum. Its yet another price to pay for full time work.

If he says it again, reply, "That is what you think today because you have had a nice time, tomorrow you would rather live with Mummy. You have a nice time there too."

Be "less nice" to him because of a bit of childish silliness?! You are overthinking this. Don't be daft - just laugh it off. You are the grown up here.

I agree with all the above but would add, praise your GSs mum to him. I am in the same position and I often say things to DGS about his mummy being kind, pretty, funny, clever, a good cook etc. I do it when she is present too.

Just ignore him as most have said. If he is by any chance not just being manipulative or if you want just to say something nice you can always tell him he can stay a night at your house from time to time.

Bit harsh!! You cant be serious! is this a wind up! why traumatise a small child like that!

One of ours has this type of behaviour down to an art form. It can be upsetting but will pass all the sooner for a bit of healthy planned ignoring. Its normal.

No don't be less nice, why break the wonderful bond you have? My Dd when she was 3 wanted to live with my neighbour who was the father of 3 boys. When we asked why she said or was because he was teaching her to arm-wrestle.