My 26 month old grandson sometimes wakes up from a nap crying hysterically, unconsolably for his father when his father is at work. His father pays very little attention to him, and has no patience with him. Sometimes when his father puts him in time out....they do not spank...he will cry hysterically and hyperventilate. Then afterwards he will be very clingy to his father. My daughter and her husband are perpetually at war and not a happy couple at all. We have tried to talk with them and have asked them to please refrain from fighting in front of their son. The child is really a happy, very loving well behaved little boy. Which makes this behavior so out of place and uncharacteristic for him. His father has adult ADD and has tried to get on medicine, but "doesn't like the way it makes him feel". They are expecting their 2nd child in Janurary, another boy.
My husband and I wonder why this otherwise happy child behaves this way. Is this behavior a sign, or should we be worried that he is being abused by his father? My daughter has not worked and has been able to be a stay at home mom since he was born.