My second (girl). My first (boy) is VERY touchy feel-ey and an extrovert so he engages me all day long. He's never enjoyed being alone. Hes also very headstrong and also extremely sensitive to many things, so it makes for a very long day trying my patience sometimes. My daughter is much more comfortable doing her own thing so I feel like I have more breathing room with her. She is also headstrong at times but without the idiosyncracies of my son so its wayyy easier to be patient during a difficult time with her than it is with my son.

My DS. My DD and I have very similar personalities and we butt heads a lot. DS is way more easy going.

Anonymous wrote:DP. If you have a favorite, why is it them?

I said on the first page that my son is my favorite. It's him, then three daughters. Plus a stepson and stepdaughter.
1. He's special because he's my only son (if he were my only girl he'd be special too - I am not obsessed with having a son)
2. He's a mama's boy. Even now as a grown adult, he holds my hand when we're walking somewhere, if he sits next to me on the couch he's physically touching me, if someone was even the tiniest bit mean to me, he'd be searching my face to see if I was upset, he brings flowers when he comes over, he is the only of my kids who would ask in the evening "how was your day?" I could go on and on.
3. He's super easy. Even though he's my most sensitive kid, I found it very easy to understand what he was sensitive about and why, and help him be more comfortable.
4. He writes the sweetest cards and has since he was little.

SO many liars. It doesn't mean we love one or the other less, it just means we might like one of them better. It is a human thing, after all.

I was dad's favorite and my sister is clearly mom's favorite. I am not some exception to the rule, either. Even if you lie here about it, your kids know.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that's an interesting philosophical question. How does someone force themselves to "love a child unconditionally", as pp claims every parent should do?

Love is a choice. It’s action. If you can “force yourself” do to anything you can put in the work to love your child unconditionally.

You can force yourself to love another person?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that's an interesting philosophical question. How does someone force themselves to "love a child unconditionally", as pp claims every parent should do?

Love is a choice. It’s action. If you can “force yourself” do to anything you can put in the work to love your child unconditionally.

I felt unconditional love when he was a + sign on a pregnancy test. I love both of my kids with my whole heart and would do anything for them.

Anonymous wrote:I think that's an interesting philosophical question. How does someone force themselves to "love a child unconditionally", as pp claims every parent should do?

Love is a choice. It’s action. If you can “force yourself” do to anything you can put in the work to love your child unconditionally.

Anonymous wrote:So glad I have an only. I'm gonna bookmark this thread though for the next time some poster claims it's cruel not to give your child a sibling.

That's awesome!

So glad I have an only. I'm gonna bookmark this thread though for the next time some poster claims it's cruel not to give your child a sibling.

Anonymous wrote:The dog.

Ding!Ding!Ding!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no favorite. I love both of my daughters equally.

Same for my two sons. Interestingly, out of 6 kids, I was my Dad's favorite and he told everyone.

Same. I was my dads favorite, and while he didn’t outright tell anyone except me, it was obvious. Caused a lot of problems among my siblings and I, to the point where we don’t talk anymore. Even in our 30s they were still angry and lashing out at me for being the favorite. I had to cut them off for my own sanity despite all the guilt I felt. I understand their anger, but I didn’t ask to be the favorite.

Oh, that's terrible! My siblings mostly laughed it off. He didn't tell them until we were mostly grown up, but it was pretty obvious. He was my favorite person in the world and I miss him. Sorry you had to distance yourself.

Anonymous wrote:One of the sweetest things I can say about my mother is that after her funeral my brother and sister and I all finally admitted, “I was Mom’s favorite”. And we each meant it.

I hope my kids feel this way!!!

Awful question. I can't even...

The younger one, because he is younger. Less attachment to the older, independent one.

I don’t have a favorite. Before you eye roll the fact is they each have big downsides and are impossible to compare. They both had great upsides too. But overall neither is more preferred. I can imagine that the calculus might be different for some.