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growing up, i figured my bro was my parents favorite since they were so hard on me sometimes (probably because i was older) but in reality, i don't think they ever really showed it. i think i'm closer to my parents than my bro but who knows. we never really "competed" for my parents' love and i hope my kids don't feel like they have to with me.

I am the youngest of 5 and there are 12 years between myself and the oldest. We're pretty well spread out which, over the years, I think made a positive impact on our 'me' time with our parents. I never really felt any of us were treated as a favorite. I should ask one of my siblings in the middle, ha!

Highwire, me too! About everything. Not sure how to share the love; never had to!

I am one of five girls (I'm #4), and my dad definitely gives me the special treatment. On the other hand, my mother favors my oldest sister. She could get away with anything.

I think my parents have bouts of favoritism. There are times when my brother can do no harm. (Like, I don't think I would be alive right now if I did some of the stuff my brother did.) There are times when me or my other sisters can do no harm. *I* personally think I'm their overall favorite. haha Although, I have given them grief and like my other siblings, I can be a big pain in the ass.

My middle sister is my mothers favorite. I'm probably my dads fav. But it's weird cause I seem to secretly crave my mothers affection and approval more.

I think my brother and I are loved equally for different reasons; and that also changed as we grew up throughout the years.

I was loved because I was the oldest, translating for my parents when I was younger (I even bought my first bike at Toys'R'Us when I was in first grade! :P) and my brother because he was the son (this is huge in asian culture) and the baby.

Now that we are older and more mature, my parents love me for being their friend/confidante/caretaker and my parents love my brother for taking care of himself, but still remaining their 'child.'

I have an older brother and he is definitely favoured by my mother. We're all close-knit and he and I are very close but he also shares a special bond with my mom. I'm not a daddy's girl, though. And since having a baby, my mother and I have become closer but still, she totally loves my brother more.

I probably am because I actually give a shit what they think and make an effort to stay involved with them. My brother does not make any effort, and does not really care that my parents are often pissed at him. So its not really a contest lol.

Old thread but I'm still going to answer...actually, I bet you can guess the answer. My brother (we are both mid-20s and only a year apart) still lives at home with my parents paying all his bills, and all his money goes towards cigarettes, alcohol, and gas to drive to his friend's. And I don't even know where he gets that money from since he's been fired from every job he's ever had, stopped attending halfway through the semester every time he insists he wants to go back to college (and it isn't hard for him, he's just lazy - the kind of ace the test but not go to class ever or write the papers,) and he refuses to take any entry-level job because he thinks he's too good for that. He also won't apply anywhere that would not allow him to keep his foot-tall neon green mohawk.

When that's the comparison...it's not hard to be the favorite. I don't even feel bad about it anymore. A few days ago he asked me how I stayed motivated with my job and school and such. When I asked if not living with mom and dad and being broke into his 30s was motivation enough, he said no, not really. Sigh.

ETA: I don't think this has really affected how I parent other than seeing what my parents should have done differently - not enabling him, not making deals (such as, if you're living here and not going to school you have to pay rent, if you flunk this semester of school you have to pay us back) unless you really intend to follow through with them, etc. And they showed no favoritism growing up, we were really parented the same way. Kind of crazy how extremely opposite we are when you consider that. Although the things we do have in common (our sense of humor, politics, religion) still is nothing like the way our parents raised us, funnily enough.

@shopaholic: Oh that sounds just awful One of my friends told me the other day (in front of her kids!) that she just hasn't connected to her daughter the same way she has her son and that he's her favorite. I felt so awkward and terrible for her daughter - who thank goodness is only 8 months old and couldn't understand, but I hope she at least stops verbalizing it as she gets older.

@shopaholic: your dad said your sister was his favorite in a public speech??? That's so crazy to me.

I remember reading a group of kids saying that their mom told each if them privately that he/she was her favorite child...and when she passed away they found out she had said that to all of them.

I also remember reading someone saying that you always have a favorite child - it just changes day to day and activity to activity.

Growing up my brother was the favorite but as adults I am clearly the favorite