Toddler keeps saying “no want dada” ???
Her father and I aren’t together, and haven’t been together since she was about 1. I (mom) allow him to have custody 2-3 nights a week. When she was around 18 months she began having total meltdowns whenever she had to go with him. It was heartbreaking honestly, and I felt evil handing her over when it was obvious she did not want to go. I ended up finding out that he had a live-in gf (which he lied and hid from me). Coincidentally, when they broke up and she moved out, my daughter’s meltdowns ceased entirely. She’s now almost 3, and this is beginning to become an issue again. The past few times I’ve dropped her off, she cries and says “no want dada” or “no want dada house”, and says things like “want stay with momma”. I got her back from her dad today and I’m so confused because she clearly loves him and gets excited to see him. She’s said “I love dada” a few times today, but then also started randomly saying “dada bad” “me no like dada” & “no want dada house”. Is this just normal toddler nonsense where she doesn’t really know what she’s saying, or is this something I should be concerned about?
Edit for more context:
Dad is abusive towards me. I have no definitive proof of him being abusive towards our child. I already have full custody. We have an informal custody arrangement. I’ve “withheld” her from him several times in the past due to a multitude of concerning things. He is rich with attorneys on retainer and has been building a case against me saying that I’m bitter/controlling and trying to alienate our child from him + he can provide her a better, more stable life (because he’s wealthy & has a high paying job/insurance). I’m poor, I can’t afford an attorney, and I worry how this will play out considering the courts tend to favor the rich. I don’t want to *believe* he is abusive to her, but I simply don’t know. Which is why I was looking for subjective opinions on if this is normal behavior or not- considering the history of him lying about having a live-in gf & that coinciding with her meltdowns.