<p>So... I know parents always say they love their kids equally and whatnot, but do they really treat each equally? I wouldn't know since I'm an only child. =]</p>
<p>Haha no. They may love all their kids equally (doubtful), but they never like all their kids equally. Usually each parent has a favorite. I am definitely my dad's favorite (because I don't only talk to him when I want money), and I'm my mom's only. </p>
<p>It's usually pretty easy to tell who the favorite is in the family.</p>
<p>Yeah, and the favorite in the family is definitely not me, even though I'm clearly the best kid.</p>
<p>Actually, being the oldest, my parents are a lot harder on me/stricter with me.</p>
<p>I mean, I'm sure they love my brother, sister, and I equally. But they do not treat us equally.</p>
<p>I don't treat mine equally because they are sooo different.</p>
<p>My parents just let my sister get away with things I never would've gotten away with. She stole money from them, and was barely punished, whereas if it had been me, they would've been a lot harsher.</p>
<p>5 year age difference, by the way.</p>
<p>It's kind of obvious that they don't love me as much as my siblings. Maybe that's because I absolutely loathe "quality time". It's not like I'm hating it on purpose... a teenage thing? My siblings are the complete opposite because they're still so young.</p>
<p>@srgirl6
ooh yeah I get that too. Supposedly I'm the oldest and I have to set a good example. When the younger ones mess up it's not so big of a deal 'cause no one's looking up to them.</p>
<p>Shrinkrap, that's actually never happened to me, but it sounds pretty funny. Although, I guess it really depends on when you catch the family lol.</p>
<p>
[quote]
ooh yeah I get that too. Supposedly I'm the oldest and I have to set a good example. When the younger ones mess up it's not so big of a deal 'cause no one's looking up to them.
[/quote]
Arrrghhh. This is my life as the oldest.</p>
<p>Because love is capable of being quantified and is measured in order to guard against parent bias and ensure equality :p</p>
<p>"Hmmm, it seems that Bobby isn't getting enough love from us when cross-examined with Sally. Reduce love into to Sally by three cubic hectometers and transfer three pints of affection to Bobby"</p>
<p>Nope. I'm sure they love both kids equally, as stated before, but definitely not liked equally. One time I was pretending to be asleep, and my sister confronted my mom about liking me better, and my mother said "No! I actually like you better because you're my first child, but I just don't want your brother to know that."</p>
<p>My world was shattered for like, a year. :(</p>
<p>OMG that's so sad! :( </p>
<p>But I'm sure she'd say the same to you if you confronted her (I mean, not the same -- that she liked you better.)</p>
<p>Only child, for the win!</p>
<p>I used to be the one that my parents yelled at all the time, but ever since the last year, I had a big change. I get straight A's and it looks like I'm going to continue to have bad grades.</p>
<p>My little sister now has to face up to higher standards because of what I'm doing. Since she's not playing piano well and she's not very good at algebra (she's only in 6th grade), she's getting yelled at more. So the person that receives the most love can really shift from one to the other.</p>
<p>I'm my dad's favorite, my mother prefers my brother.</p>
<p>Some parents may not love their children equally. I can tell you that I do. Does not mean that they like their children equally, treat them equally. Also there is only so much focus a person can give at one time, so a kid in trouble or need may get more attention. Does not mean he is loved more.</p>
<p>I think that parents love their kids equally but in different ways. Like My dad will take more crap from my sister and me than my mom will. And my mom will take more crap from my brother than my dad will.</p>
<p>Also want to add that treating them equally is not usually a good thing as kids often have different needs, weaknesses, strengths. I don't think my kids would want to be treated alike in all ways. They will point a finger and bellow about a privilege one of the others have gotten, but are not interested in some of the consequences or hassle that others have earned. Also, we are still learning as parents and sometimes have had to reverse our stances on things as circumstances change or results showed things we did not consider. There are 14 years between my oldest and youngest and family situation is quite different now than it was. So equality cannot be assured. We are not the same people in many ways that we were back then.</p>
<p>Speaking as a parent, I think that most parents do love all their children and try to love them equally, but sometimes it is just easier to like one child more than another (and which child that is can change from year to year, lol). It's just the same as any other interpersonal relationship you have. As the child, do you love your mother more than you love your father? Or here's an even better analogy, do you love your mother more than your brother or sister does? How can you possibly measure that?</p>
<p>However, parents do TREAT their children differently, depending upon what they need and the particular circumstances at that moment. If one child is slacking off and getting poor grades in school, or using drugs, then you can be sure the parents are going to be "on his case" far more than they are for the sibling who is getting straight A's and volunteering at the soup kitchen every weekend. That doesn't mean the parents don't love the slacker, they are just trying to help him get on the right path.</p>