To think that this confirms my suspicions that these Siblings are treated differently?

[PopcornAndCandles]

I have a family member whom I am close with but she lives a few hours away from me so we don't see each other as regularly as I would have liked.

She has 2DC; one male (18) and one female (16).

I have always had my suspicions that her DS is favoured over her DD, the way they act with him and speak about him. He's been on holiday numerous times with his Dad however they have never taken the DD out of the country.

Anyway, I sent her an Email asking how they are getting on as I haven't seen them for a while and this was her reply about her DC;

'Lisa is ok, done well in her Exams and starts sixth form soon'.

'Dave is doing brilliantly, he is doing an apprenticeship at the moment and has passed all of his exams with distinctions. He must get that from his Father!' :)

Am I reading too much into this or does it seem as though she is uninterested about telling me how her DD is?

I feel so sorry for this girl :(

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

I don't get favouritism from that particular message. Only taking one DC on holidays is certainly very unfair though! What's their justification for that?

[PopcornAndCandles]

Her DS and his Dad both share a hobby which they go overseas for as well, it is an expensive hobby so they can't afford a 'family holiday'.

It's very sad.

[WorraLiberty]

Is the girl bothered about never having gone outside the country?

I don't get favouritism from the email either.

[skylark2]

It might be favouritism, or it might be that actually her DD is struggling rather, hasn't done nearly as well as she hoped, and the family's not advertising it.

Bit odd to not have started sixth form yet in October.

[NorwaySpruce]

I don't think it says that at all.

They are treated differently, certainly, which is as it should be.

One of my children would rather spend his summer with elderly relatives, than come away with us.

One step-son is very academic, one less so, and we probably do talk his achievements up a bit, as most of his friends will be university material, whereas he probably isn't headed that way. His friends, and some relatives, would think the apprenticeship route was second best, so we might overcompensate.

Everyone is happy with their lot though, and don't seem in the least bothered that their siblings have different interests/abilities.

[DeWee]

As a one off I don't get favouritsm either.

I write an email to dm every Sunday and let her know how things are going. I put a line or two in about the dc generally. Often it will look along the lines of:
I have been so proud of one this week; s/he has done 3 performances and made a wonderful Cinderella/Prince at the local theatre. Sh/e got her music results and just missed a distinction; s/he's been offered a place at the local audition orchestra.
another has had a heavy cold and so hasn't done their usual stuff after school.
And the last fell off the climbing frame and has the biggest bruise on their bottom you ever saw!

The thing is that another week it will be another's turn to have the enthusiastic writing , and the others won't have done much.

[gobbynorthernbird]

It actually sounds to me like the father is the favourite, and the son is lucky enough to be able to tag along. What grown man does a hobby at the expense of a family holiday?

[gobbynorthernbird]

And, I'd rather that email than one trying to convince me that a normal/average child (which most children are) who occasionally plays up, is some kind of mini Einstein crossed with Mother Theresa.

[ssd]

agree with gobby above, the dad seems to be the spoilt one, imagine making your family miss out on a holiday because you want to do some expensive hobby abroad

he sounds a complete arse