Do you have a favourite child?

I love my children equally, but my youngest annoys me the most.

No, not favourite. I do have one who is a lot of fun to be around.

Yes it’s the cat 🐈‍⬛

Definitely love them both so much it hurts.

The cats though, I do have a favourite but don’t tell the other one (not that she’ll mind, she doesn’t care for me at all, she’s too in love with my husband!)

I think you can go through phases of being more connected with one child than another. I often have, but it changes from one to the other over time. I definitely love them both equally.

No I don’t have a favourite. I say to mine you are my favourite little girl or boy as I have one of each 🤣.
I probably have more in common with one than the other but I absolutely love them both equally.
On a side note though I’m pretty sure they both have a favourite parent 🤣

I think that's correct, I love them both the same but have 'favourites' for doing certain things with. One DD is great to chill with as she can just 'be' while the other likes to natter, which is great if you are in a chatty mood too. One is great to go shopping with and likes to zoom about finding things she thinks would suit you and the other isn't bothered at all. One has similar music tastes to me, the other shares a different interest. I enjoy being around them both equally though and I tell them he dog is my favourite child.

I love them all equally. I might feel more protective of one at one time, or more affectionate, but I do love them all the same.

I don’t think this is unusual or unfair. As adults, we all need to own our behaviour and how it impacts on our relationships with others: if you’re always only showing up to Mum’s house wanting something, causing her stress, never asking about her life because you want to moan about yours etc, even Mum who loves you isn’t going to respond to you or look forward to your visits the same way as she does your sibling who is thoughtful, helpful, and treats her like a human and not just Mum who’s there to take whatever you throw at her.

Yeah I agree, it just simply isn't the case for me. I genuinely love them all the same, I couldn't even pick one that I'm closest to really. They all think they are my favourite so I obviously make them feel like that independently from one another.

Yeah. Whichever is doing my head in the least!
I have two. They are like chalk and cheese.
DS2 is MUCH easier on a day to day basis. Loves life. Easygoing. Wants to do stuff all the time. I go to gigs and stuff with him. He rarely complains. But he is a lazy, outrageously messy little b*gger and gets through money like water.
DS1 is autistic and can be extremely hard work, but he also does tasks that I ask him to do (not when I ask him - they get done in 'his' time!) , he is tidy, can have a nice long interesting conversation (when he wants to - I generally have to drop everything when he starts speaking as it doesn't happen that often), comes for walks with me, and can be extremely thoughtful and protective about me - I know he puts effort into this as it doesn't come naturally which makes me appreciate it more.

My eldest brother was and still is so clearly my parent's favourite, and it damaged my relationship with them so badly as a kid. The sun literally shone out of his arse regardless of what he did.

Parent's will of course have different relationships with their kids, but to blatently prefer one over the other is a dick move of the highest order.

I read that the oldest is the mothers favourite, and the youngest the fathers favourite. I know my parents love us all equally but im the youngest and definitely my dad’s favourite child, I tell my sister all the time, she’s stuck with mum 😄

Or just have one. There is no need to have more than one child.

Favourite, absolutely not. One I still feel responsible for, yes simply because they are the youngest and haven’t yet flown the nest. We are helping them to do that at the moment. Time for the apron strings to be cut.

The eldest, a wonderful woman with a child of her own graciously understands the additional support we are giving to her sibling. (Big age gap)

I have 4 kids and they're all my favourite for different reasons, my eldest is an adult and she's so witty and is like my mini best friend, we can talk and laugh for hours. My second is 14 and is just the most loveable sweet person, it would be hard not to love her, she has the best laugh. My third is 13 and is an absolute force of nature, she throws herself in to everything and is fiercely loyal and loving. My youngest is 5 and is my baby, absolutely hilarious and just so kind and cute. They all also drive me mad in equal measure so that's fair too 😂. I can't imagine having an actual favourite.

If you’re already thinking it’s normal to have a favorite, you shouldn’t be having children at all. Get a dog.

Many, if not most parents have favourites.

Both of mine are my favourite. Adore them both with everything I have.

My GC all think they aren't the favourite but all think a different one is the favourite. I'm not sure if that's good or bad.

I have 8 and the truth is I love them all, try to spend equal time with them (due to geography it isn't really possible) but I am more bonded to one for various reasons, I'm not sure if that makes them the favourite but they are the one who needs me most.

"But I also think most people secretly have a child they are especially drawn to/ charmed by over the others."

I see people say things like this & honestly can't relate at all. I have four (adult down to younger teen) and the idea of having a favourite is just bizarre to me - mine are all so very different from one another they all delight, amuse and concern me in different ways. It would be impossible to say I liked one of them more, or found one of them easier or more charming or whatnot.

I tend to think the "oh everyone has a favourite but just won't admit it!" is something people say to makes themselves feel better!

I prefer spending time with DS2 because he's calm, lovely and funny while DS1 is autistic, rigid and often rude. But.. my love for them is the same, instinctive and I would do anything for both of them and always treat them fairly. .

I have three adult DC
i do and always have loved them equally and lots and lots
but yes, secretly I do have a favourite. And it’s the one I’m least close to oddly.
my friend group sometimes talk about this and we all say I definitely don’t have a favourite but if I did it would be DC X.
interestingly all three of mine think they’re the favourite!

I lavish love, affection, affirmation on all of them but apparently I say it through my eyes/ tone of voice when with my one child. That's what all of them told me one day.

I had to really consider that because I don't think I do have a favourite and was quite hurt and offended they thought so, but I do think the particular child is the least hard work so im always pleased they arrive with no stress.

Presumably his favourite.