What to Do If I Have a Favorite Child?

Last week, I received a phone message from an anonymous Mighty Mommy listener asking for input on a question that many parnts struggle with:  “I’m really feeling quite guilty about this—I have two children and I can honestly say that I like one more than the other. Help!”

Firstly, I’d like to thank my listener for bringing up this taboo parenting topic. Lots of parents actually feel this way, but we often hide our true feelings for fear of judgment.

In my experience of raising eight kids, I learned quickly that no two children are the same and the truth is that I don’t always feel equally about each of them either.

70% of dads and 74% of moms report preferential treatment toward one child.

So today, Mighty Mommy tackles how to deal with having a favorite child so you won’t be riddled with guilt for the rest of your parenting life:

Love and Favoritism Are Not the Same

I first became a mother through adoption, so I didn’t have the physical challenges of delivering a baby and was able to enjoy her without dealing with a sore, postpartum body. Although I did have the normal anxiety associated with adoption, I was finally a mother after a long struggle with infertility so my focus was on enjoying my newborn. The love I felt for her was like nothing else I’d ever experienced.

One year later, I delivered my first son and the experience was totally different. Truthfully there was nothing enjoyable about it. The labor and delivery were rough, breastfeeding was a nightmare, and my son didn’t tolerate most of the formulas we tried. I’m honest in saying that I didn’t enjoy this experience at all like I did our daughter’s adoption, but the love I felt for him was still pure and deep.

In Psychology Today’s article "Do Parents Have Favorite Children?" Dr. Ellen Weber Libby discusses three principles regarding favoritism: Can children be treated equally? How do love and favoritism differ? Can who's the favorite change? Her take is that love and favoritism are not the same. “Love connotes tender feelings and strong affection usually accompanied by loyalty and devotion. In contrast, favoritism implies choosing or preferring one person over another. Parents may love all their children, and at certain times, prefer or favor one over others.”

I totally relate to this explanation. I have a deep love for all my kids, but the approach each one needs is as different and unique as they are. 

Dr. Libby also notes that...

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