I’ve got an 8 yr old only child daughter. She’s a dream most the time but definitely becomes more childish and clingy when I am present and other children are interacting with me. For her it is absolutely a jealousy or threat she perceived as normally she has no one else interacting with me. Obviously we are all different but my daughter is pretty mature and understands her behaviour and what is acceptable or not. And I would parent this in a firm way because 8 isn’t a toddler and there is a firm understanding of what they are being asked to do and what is acceptable. However as I say we are all different. I do think those saying there is nothing wrong with her desire to be with you are correct in a way but also deeply flawed in another. We have to develop our children to be people independent in their own right and not dependent on others and this doesn’t mean not showering them in love but it does sometimes mean not being their bestest friend in the world. I respect we won’t all agree on that but it’s my opinion 😊 hope you can work out what’s right for you