playing favorites with children

[trentlogain2]

Preface: I'm not a parent. I hope people don't think I'm coming in here trying to start mischief and cause strife though.

When I read The Bible I see that having children who you favor over their siblings goes all the way back to the beginning. Rebecca favored Jacob. Isaac favored Esau. Whether this is due to our sin nature, perhaps..but Truth tells us that this takes place.

What I'm wondering is your honest thoughts on this subject.

PS - I know godly parents will love all their children. I'm not trying to insinuate anything here.

 

[suzybeezy]

My friends who are also parents and I (who have 4 children) have talked about this before and have come to the conclusion that its not about favoritism, although I'm sure to a child it can seem that way, but its moreso that we have different types of relationships with each child due to their personalities. My oldest son and I have very similiar senses of humor so we can laugh and joke around very easily and talk more easily. Whereas my daughter and I share more similiar interest, so we do more things together. I think its funny that my oldest two kids always squabble that they each think the other is my favorite.

That said, I do think our kids have a favorite parent, at least at different points in their lives they feel more close to one parent or another - and in some families that could carry throughout a lifetime.