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Original poster

‘It’s like trying to choose your favourite child’

100 replies

PriamFarrl · 29/04/2022 21:45

I heard this phrase again today but I’ve never really thought about it.

I’m not in the position to be able to choose a favourite child, but, if you have more than one child, and you know that no one will ever know, do you have a favourite?

OP posts:
lljkk · 30/04/2022 11:28

"Favourite" varies by the day/hour/10 minute spell, and I usually tell them, including why. Typically linked to whoever ...

last washed my car
cleaned the bathroom
found something I couldn't find
cooked me a nice dinner
cleaned up the enormous pile of cat sick
did anything else that made my life easier

Apple333 · 30/04/2022 11:32

I have 2 and don't and wouldn't ever have a favourite (even if nobody knew) because my M did and it shows so badly, we don't really have a relationship because of this.

SpiderVersed · 30/04/2022 11:34

I get along better with one but that doesn’t make them my favourite. We just like similar things.

They are all amazing in different ways.

Rainbowshit · 30/04/2022 11:35

No favourite here.

Pegasaurus · 30/04/2022 11:35

No, my mum said parents always have a favourite but I genuinely don't

GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 30/04/2022 11:52

Well, on some days DD is chatty and funny and all-round great company, and her brother is a stroppy little diva, and on those days she's my favourite. And on other days she moody, grumpy and uncommunicative and he's a sweet, loving, helpful little chap, and on those days he's my favourite.

I love them both equally though!

Sexheadacheouch · 30/04/2022 11:53

I have one I get along with the best. But I love them all

AskingforaBaskin · 30/04/2022 11:57

I could probably pick a favourite of the day.

newnamethanks · 30/04/2022 12:14

Gogglebox dad was asked this by 2 of his 3 sons the other day. Answer? 'He's not here'😀

Sweetmotherofallthatisholyabov · 30/04/2022 12:20

I was thinking about this the other day. I think it's whoever I'm with. When I'm with one of them I think they're gorgeous and amazing and I love them so much I think they must be my favourite. Then I see another one and my brain gets confused. I love them all so much. They're only babies though. I'd say in the future some I might spend more time with, or I'll enjoy doing different things with each one. I'm not sure will the one most like me by the most fun to be around to a complete head wreck 😂😂😂

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 30/04/2022 12:21

My DD asks who my favourite child is fairly regularly, I say the dog is. Grin

MichonnesBBF · 30/04/2022 12:24

I have one favourite daughter and one favourite son, I tell them all the time.

P.s....I only have 2 children 😇

Although on a serious note, what I find irritating in one I don't in the other (how they eat 😠) and vise versa (personal hygiene 🤢)

I love the fact that one of them takes after me for their love of books 📚 (the other one has zero interest)
I love the fact that the other one picks up maths like a genius (compared to me and their sibling)

slowsundays · 30/04/2022 12:24

I have two polar opposite children and therefore one has my favourite qualities for x activity and the other has my favourite qualities for y activity.

There's no overall favourite and I genuinely mean that. They're both my absolute favourite people in the world (alongside DH).

SkiingIsHeaven · 30/04/2022 12:42

I told both of mine individually that they were my favourite but not to tell the other one.

It was hilarious when they found out.

AskingforaBaskin · 30/04/2022 12:49

SkiingIsHeaven · 30/04/2022 12:42

I told both of mine individually that they were my favourite but not to tell the other one.

It was hilarious when they found out.

I have three and now I want to do this :D

TheSnowyOwl · 30/04/2022 12:53

I have one whose company is my favourite for going on walks, one whose company is my favourite to go out for a meal and another who is my favourite for watching something on tv. At different times, I have one who is in a better mood so more enjoyable to be with but I don’t have an overall favourite that I prefer and love more than the other two.

In the same way you can treat your children fairly by treating them differently, you can love them equally by having different favourites for different occasions.

StrawberrySanta · 30/04/2022 13:04

I have 2 DS's. Ages 1 and 3. I would say (never out loud!).my favourite is the older one because be has a big personality, he's funny, I just know him more. I hope that doesn't sound awful, but I've known him longer so surely that's natural. When the little one reaches 2/3 years , I'm sure his personality will shine and they will both be my favourites!

tuliplover · 30/04/2022 14:59

While people may love their kids equally, I bet there's one they like more. I was my mother's favourite. She didn't treat me any different, but I knew it. We just got on in a certain way. My older sister was my dad's favourite- again I couldn't say why I know this but I think they just could relate to each other more. He was a doctor and she is one now (different field though). We have another sibling...
My daughter and I get on really well. We have similar personalities and energy levels and tolerance of people. We are both quite self contained. My son is the opposite. We've always slightly rubbed against each other and I've always found him exhausting. He's very high energy and gregarious snd needs to be kept busy and gets his energy from being with other people. I love them both equally, but I get on with her more.

LeeMucklowesCurtains · 30/04/2022 15:13

I have different relationships with all three of mine and different feelings for each (although the same intense love for them all).

I have huge age gaps though, so all very different ages.

HelloBarkness · 30/04/2022 15:15

We just used good Hank and bad Hank as a family, it's was interchangeable, it still is, we're in our 30s 😂

liveforsummer · 30/04/2022 17:04

Mine are both my favourites but in very different ways - they are so different in every way possible and each have special things that stand out

IsabelaYourBoyfriendsHere · 30/04/2022 17:12

Nope, I have three children (4, 2 and six months) and I love them all equally. All three of them have individual reasons why they're so special. I couldn't pick a favourite, they're all my favourite.

axolotlfloof · 30/04/2022 18:35

I feel I have to support and protect my Eldest more.
My youngest is more skilled in self care and organisation.
I couldn't choose a favourite though.

doveseternal · 30/04/2022 18:42

Maydaysoonenough · 29/04/2022 21:46

I tell mine I hate them all equally!!

Lovely

LetitiaLeghorn · 30/04/2022 18:50

My parents loved me and my sister. My mum used to be closer to my sister than me in so far as they enjoyed doing similar things but I never felt she loved me less. But as we grew older, I know they found me easier to get on with than my sister but I know that they still loved her. I just think I'm more easy going and loveable. 😊

I don't think it's unusual to be closer to one or get on with one better than another. And I think its fair for people to relate to one differently to another or have a different type of relationship. But I think regardless most parents love their children equally (although maybe not in the same way.)

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