favouritism

Do you have a (least) favourite child?

by Justine Davies on May 12, 2009

“The worst part about having kids is when you get one you don’t like. You can choose not to spend time with other people who irritate the hell out of you, but you can’t do that with your kids - you have to go on meeting their needs. You can’t talk to most people about feeling that way either ….” This was part of a comment made by one of my readers a while back and I thought, well, what better time that just after Mother’s Day to discuss a major parenting issue – favouritism.

“It’s a taboo topic - no-one will admit it. But it’s a natural and normal thing to get along with one person better than another, even when those people are your children,” says well-known parenting expert (and author of one of my favourite books) Michael Grose. And, despite the fact that we don’t like to talk about it, favouritism is a more common issue than your parent-guilt might allow you to think.

According to a study done by Professor Julie...Read More >>