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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you have a favourite child?

211 replies

Shockat · 27/12/2020 18:43

I have a boy and girl. They are mostly opposites. I much prefer my son's personality. They're adults btw.

OP posts:
arethereanyleftatall · 27/12/2020 19:32

If you have one child who is a much nicer person than the other, it'd be very difficult not to.

Caramel81 · 27/12/2020 19:34

I don’t have kids but my mum has hinted to me that I’m her favourite as my sister causes so much stress and drama all the time.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 27/12/2020 19:35

one child who is a much nicer person than the other

While I know nature is a big influence you do have quite a lot of influence as a parent to make your child nice. Often when there's a behaviour disparity it's a child reflecting how they feel adults are towards them etc - it can be self perpetuating

HidingFromDD · 27/12/2020 19:36

I have 2 young adult DDs and they're both very different. One is easier to live with and like's cuddling in front of the tv, other is more arms length physically but loves to talk over anything. So I have favourites for some activities but no favourite overall, and def love them both differently but equally. Sadly I think they both feel the other one is the favourite :-(

pilates · 27/12/2020 19:38

One is easier than the other, but the other one is funny and does make me laugh.

arethereanyleftatall · 27/12/2020 19:41

For sure @NoIDontWatchLoveIsland
But where and why does that start?

I just find on threads like these you tend to get people appalled and 'of course not.' But, taking extremes, what if one of your children is the school bully, and your other is lovely?

GabsAlot · 27/12/2020 19:41

i hope u dont tell them that

my late mil favourite was my dh she told her 2 dd's this all the time it made for a strained relationship

she done it n front me i said you cant say that she said why not

all this whilst her daughter walked off crying

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 27/12/2020 19:41

No, and even if I did I’d do my damnedest not to show it. My Dm would have sworn blind that she didn’t have a favourite but it was pretty obvious that she did - the one boy after 2 girls, and followed by another girl.

Pat123dev · 27/12/2020 19:42

I think I prefer the dog to the kids sometimes....

AliceMcK · 27/12/2020 19:42

As a non favourite child, definitely not. I would never hurt any of my children like that.

NohopeNochance · 27/12/2020 19:42

No I dont like them equally as much

thegcatsmother · 27/12/2020 19:43

Ds, but he is my only child.

Gintime74 · 27/12/2020 19:43

I have 4 , I love them all the same but relate to them differently at different times.

FlyNow · 27/12/2020 19:45

I think it would be fine if favourites were based on who is objectively nicer or easier. I've noticed that it isn't though, instead it often seems to be based on sex or physical appearance. In that case it's really shallow and horrible. You can't help being born a boy/girl when your parents wanted the other, or who was the cutest baby out of the siblings.

MissBaskinIfYoureNasty · 27/12/2020 19:46

Literally whoever is giving me the least grief at any given time. Genuinely though, I have 4 and they're all very different people with very different personalities and some days certain personalities are easier to get along with than others.

shamus2020 · 27/12/2020 19:46

I have 5 kids. My favourite is the cat 🐈‍⬛

RosesAndHellebores · 27/12/2020 19:46

At various points each has been my favourite. They have never known and never shall.

CreamFirstThenJamOnTop · 27/12/2020 19:48

No, but there are definitely days where one is easier than the other and vice versa. Dd is going through a very challenging phase currently where she is super bossy and will argue about how to do absolutely everything!

Staffy1 · 27/12/2020 19:51

@Howmanysleepsnow

No. But each of my 4 DC insist I have... and they all insist they’re it! DH does have a favourite, but they haven’t guessed that!
You're doing a fab job then if they all feel they are the favourite, they must all feel specially loved :)
GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 27/12/2020 19:53

My favourite child changes by the minute, depending on which one is being least annoying.

whattodo2019 · 27/12/2020 19:53

of course not!!!

Callipygion · 27/12/2020 19:53

@OohKittens

No but I have a favourite cat
Haha me too! (Except when she poos on the floor instead of in her litter tray, then I prefer the other one. )
FuckOffDailyFailure · 27/12/2020 19:54

Yes, I do. The worst thing is, it isn't even one of mine (arf arf).

Mandatory LIGHTHEARTED JUST KIDDING warning.

FuckOffDailyFailure · 27/12/2020 19:56

Oh yes, pets are different, although, now you mention it, I think I did love my dogs the same.

To answer your question seriously. No, I don't have a favourite child op.

TisTheSeasonToEatLots · 27/12/2020 19:56

Yes, whichever one happens to be annoying me less at that moment in time 😆.

I have a older brother and younger sister, it’s a running joke that my brother is the favourite (for my mum anyway), my sister is my dad’s fave. I’m the middle child 🤣🤣.