by Tiffany Sheridan

Created on: October 31, 2008

I have three children my girls ages four and two and my son age two months. As with any parent,I would vow over and over again that it is impossible to have a favorite among children. My mother did, my husbands mother did they swore up and down that they loved all their children equally. I do not love one child more over their siblings. However while sorting through my thought for this article I found myself coming to a stunning realization: I do favor different children in different circumstances. I can hear the gasps from mothers everywhere "gasp, who could you". Give me a moment and maybe you'll understand.

First of all this is not a debate over how much I love my children. My children all have my love equally and I couldn't love anything more that I love my children. Thia is a question of favoritism right? I'm guilty. Lets start small I have a very young child right now two months, we all remember the baby days, you sit for hours just loving that child. So at this point in time Daniel my son is my "favorite" child to cuddle with. He cuddles back and my every smile sends coos and giggles through him which just make the experience even more enjoyable. This is not to say that I don't spend time with my two daughters cuddling. I treasure these moments also but they are short lived, the girls have stuff to do what was I thinking. Plus they had their time for baby cuddles when they were that age. So on the count of my son being my favorite cuddle bug, guilty as charged.

Okay so we know I favor Daniel so what about my daughters? Let's say it's one of those crazy busy days. The day is packed full of errands to run, chores to complete and people to visit. As a mom it's the type of day where from the first moment awake you are doing something. So between nursing the baby and giving baths I realize that I'm going to need some help if I want this day to go smoothly. I take a deep breath as I'm dressing my two year old Audra, then it dawns on me. I turn to her big sister Abigail and I ask her "hey big girl, you want to be mommy's big helper today?" or something sweet along those lines. And of course she does every four year old is a hurry to grow up and be like mommy and daddy. From that moment on she's helping me. Grabbing the can of soup from the bottom shelf at the store, cleaning up toys through out the house, and the biggest help entertaining her younger sister. So in this instance Abigail is my "favorite" because she is helping me keep sane and get things done. I know eventually Abigail's siblings will also be able to help out but until then she will rein supreme in this area.

I know everyone is waiting on edge, so what is Audra my two year old, my favorite in. Two year olds are a handful as we all know and she is not different. It is easy for me to choose something that she is my "favortie". Audra is my favorite child to play with. Everything is magical and wonderful in the eyes of a two year old. She brings me back down to earth when I feel like I'm going a million directions. So we sit and we play, we color, we read and I answer over a gazillion questions. It's fun for me and with out a doubt it's fun for her too.

So there it is I have favorites. As sure as I am that I love my three children I am sure that each child will be a favorite for several different areas and I am sure that they will continue to change as they grow. Am I a bad parent for it? I don't think so, it's not like I tell one child sorry I like to play with your sister more, I could never. As you read this I'm sure there are those of you that are coming to the same realization that I did. So go ahead favor you children it alright we all know your love is the same for each one.

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