Toddler feeling stress between mommy and daddy?

Without going into much detail, DH and I are under a tremendous amount of physical and emotional stress.
We don't do anything in front of the girls, but my 2.5 year old is starting to act out and get really clingy and scared of everything which is really out of her character.

-she holds onto me for dear life at bedtime, i've resorted to laying on the floor next to her bed til she falls asleep-she used to go in, say goodnight and go to sleep

-She only wants me, and is up my butt all day. She'll do anything to get my attention, positive or negative.

-she wants nothing to do with DH, everything is all mommy..she used to be a daddy's girl.

-she wakes up AT LEAST 1-2 times a night screaming crying and wanting me to hold her-SHe hasn't woke up at night since she was 9 months old. (she has had all her teeth for awhile now, so i know it's not teething)

I'm not sure if this is just normal behavior or if she knows that mommy is sad? It hurts me to think that my sadness and things going on in our adult life are affecting her?

What do you think?

Message edited 10/1/2008 8:27:24 AM.

Re: Toddler feeling stress between mommy and daddy?

Do you think that maybe it's just normal 'terrible 2's'? I sort of remember that they go through a Mommy and a Daddy phase....maybe this is your turn?

Hang in there...I really hope and pray things start to get better.

Re: Toddler feeling stress between mommy and daddy?

First of all, I'm sorry you and DH are having a stressful time If it's any consolation though, my 2.5 yr old DS is currently doing EVERYTHING on your list except waking up crying during the night-- he only lets me put him to bed, he barely lets me go pee by myself, and he strongly favors me over DH right now. And we have nothing tense going on between us (well, I am PG and we are remodeling about half our house! But this clingy stuff started before these events)

I will say though, that I cannot fight with DH at all in front of DS. Even if we're not raising our voices exactly but talking to each other in "tense" voices, shall we say.... DS gets visibly upset and might even cry. So there may be subtle tension between you guys that your DD picks up on.

Re: Toddler feeling stress between mommy and daddy?

See i'm not sure if it's just a 2.5 year old thing or if it's the emotional stress she's picking up on.

But thanks computergirl it helps to hear that i don't have the only 2 year old that has become an appendage to my butt.