Why do we tend to love our children more than our parents?

Question

After all our parents brought us into this world, supposedly raised us with love & sacrifice & are as much a part of us as our children. But most of us love our children at least a little more (sometimes a whole lot more) Why is that?

Answer 1

If I had children I'd love them just as equally as I love my parents.

Answer 2

Cause we do the same as are parents did with us. Some even more.Some of us have a real hard time getting pregnant. Some of us go though really hard trying pregnancies. And then some of want to and dream of being parents all are lives. I know I love my son more than anyone else in the world. I had a really bad 1st pregnancy, and then my second was like a little present sent from god. So it's easy for me to love him more. I guess it just depends on the person you are, what you have to go threw and how your parents were to you. Our parents guide us into being the people we are today.

Answer 3

It makes sense that a parent would, in some ways, love their children more then their parents...even more then their spouse. The child is theirs...their own creation...their blessing. It may not be that we love our parents any less but differently. Parenthood is the most rewarding gift...thank your folks for all they did for you, love them always...but the little baby born to you, with all it's five fingers and toes...well, now it's your turn to impart all those lessons learned to your little one. When they grow up the cycle will continue...they will appreciate all your love but they will cherish their little one...that too is a lesson you have taught them!

Answer 4

First, it's normal so don't feel bad. Most of us have something inside that keeps that feeling in our system...parents were bad because they wouldn't let me do things...my friends' parents just gave them $$ without having to work for it like mine made me...
there's a million things deep in our brains that we tend to blame our parents for things. Too many of us think we were owed the good things anyway since they gave birth to us.

As we tend to get a little older & learn about other people's experiences with child abuse...low income upbringing,,,the affect of a one parent family had on them...parents with booze & drug problems...and again, there are millions of things that might have affected other people's childhood (and thus your view of how your parents raised you) that didn't affect you.

If you haven't heard this before, it's true: "The older I get, the smarter my parents get." We don't tend to realize just how hard our parents had to work to raise us...or appreciate all the little things they did, and in some unfortunate cases, even care until we have our own kids, and have the same experience.

And, it will probably be the exact same thing with your children.

Answer 5

I've thought about this question myself. Thanks for asking it. I felt that there was something strange about the fact that I do love my daughter more than my parents even though I shall be saddened when they pass. I don't however know if I could function as a normal human being if anything were to happen to my daughter. The death of one's child has to be the hardest burden any parent would face.I know that my parents death will be hard but bearable though. I also face the question now, who do I love the most, my daughter or my grandson? He is truly a blessing that I had not expected to love so much. But she has been my reason for living for nearly 20 years.I would freely give my life for either one of them but would not willing die for my parents.

Answer 6

I was an only child who noticed my parent's every flaw. I was rebellious and felt justified in order to live with myself. So my plan was to be a better parent to my kids than my parents were to me. It didn't work. I spoiled both kids trying to buy their love if I couldn't earn it, and now the load of guilt I dumped on my parents has been dumped on me. Karma? God? Stupidity? Beats me!!
My answer: I thought I could do it better than they did with me. All I had to do was everything they didn't do for me.Therefore I had more love (and ego) invested in my children than I did in my parents. It was one big backfire. Good Question!! @8=)

Answer 7

because we have grown less dependent while they has done the countless, thoughtful, trouble-healing, helpful and encouraging things which somehow only parents seem to know how to do. we may have accepted these attentions more or less as matters of course, and perhaps without conscious gratitude or any expression of our appreciation and as we are rapidly approaching the time in life when we will be entirely independent of our parents the ties with which dependency has bound us to them may be severed as we grow older- but the tie of parent-love can never be broken.

Answer 8

Our children depend on us. Most parents do not. When you put your all into something, that tends to be the thing you love most, but don't forget your parents. As they age, they may need your all as well. My mother is caring for my dying grandmother and I know she appreciates everything she has done for her.

Answer 9

I think it is because we connect to our children in a way we don't to our parents. We don't identify with our parents in the same way and their actions don't bring reflected glory the way our children do. Their "a" report card, pretty smile, awards and accomplishment reflect on us.

Answer 10

It's what in the hearts of each one.Look into our hearts and see what our parents did to us and then look at what our kids do and we have to teach our kids right from wrong.
When our parents was young there moms and dads did not let them know what was in the world like now days and they did not know how to teach there kids.We know or should know how to teach our children.It has alot to do with respect.