To parents...Can you love one child more than another?

Question

Is this possible?

Answer 1

I don't think it is loving one child more than the other. I think it is more like identifying with one more than the other.
Many times I have felt closer to one of my children than the other because of circumstances; first born, last born, same interests, compatible personalities and so on.
This is probably a bad example but...
Most people have three or four friends that they are very close to.
At different times in our lives we tend to gravitate toward one friend for a while, then something in our lives changes and we start to gravitate towards another.
This doesn't mean that we love one more than the other all the time, it just means than we are in a constant state of flux---we gravitate toward the people that we identify with at that moment.

Answer 2

That's what kids always think, but it usually doesn't work that way. If one child is having a lot of problems, then the parents tend to give that kid a lot of attention, at least during the period of time that the problems last.
Kids often perceive that as loving that child more, even though the kid with few problems feels that he or she should be loved more because he or she is not giving the parents a lot of anxiety.
Parents should discuss this with all the kids while this difficult period is going on, but they don't. We have been guilty of this. What we did was mistakenly believe that the kid with few problems understands.
Talk to your parents.

Answer 3

We have 2 todlers now and it is not possible to love one less than the other. Although, it is possible to favor one more than the other. Once you have and hold and see and feel a child...no matter how many you may have...there's no possible way you could love any of them any less than the other. There is this special parental bond that instantly attaches to one another as the baby comes into one's life. I could never see myself loving one of my kids any less as time goes on, even in troubled times. =)

Answer 4

It is possible, but that would basically make someone a bad parent. I think good parents love their children equally but in different ways!

Answer 5

I have 2 children. My daughter is 19yrs old and my best friend. When I want to cry and vent, instead of my age friends, i call my little girl. We have this special bond that noone can break. Then there's my 13 yrs old son who's my rock, and literally the man in my home. So yes, you can love them differently. The point is that you love them.

Answer 6

Im sure that is possible that a parent can 'miss' one child more than the other...depending upon how close they are...how much time they spend with one or the other..personality match or discord. sure. but loving one more ..no

Answer 7

a parent may love a child more than another....but do not try to show it to other children as this might make the relation between siblings become worse.....

Answer 8

Sure it is...it's not uncommon at all. That doesn't mean there's not a LOT of love for every child, but many parents have a "favorite"

Answer 9

I think sometimes that parents love our children differently rather than more than another... I have 2 children and I do love them equally.

Answer 10

I really don't think so. I've got 3 kids 22,24, and 7years old. Yes I do like them more at times for who they are, and their mannerisims that are closer to mine. But they are all different, and at times it feels like you just want to love em more than another. I see that as liking the traits. My 7 year old is adopted...but she is a girl and what fun we have. Two grown sons get the same treatment. SPOILED SPOILED SPOILED!!!!