In today’s episode of “Family and Life Apostolate Movement Hour,” a one-hour radio program aired over our local radio station anchored by yours truly, we tackled the issue of favoritism among siblings in the families.
Is there any favoritism in your family? Who gets the most favor and who gets less? Why do you think favoritism happens in the families? How would favoritism affects the children?
These are the questions I asked my guests. (I failed to give to them earlier the questionnaire because my canon 1900 has no more printer ink. Last night, I discovered that I have no more buffer stock of this printer ink.)
Studies show that parents are bound to play favorites among their children (unless they have only 1 child) and 70% of fathers and 65% of mothers show favoritism among siblings.
Our chaircouple, Joe and Baby said, ” We always said that we would do our best to make things fair for our children. Often parents want that they do not favor one of their children over the other.”
But their belief is wrong- it is impossible not to convey favored treatment of one child over another. We parents have unique personalities that cause us to have different responses to our children’s provocations. Moreover, no two children are exactly the same. No two children evoke identical feelings, emotions and reactions from their parents.
Miko, 18 years of age and a representative of SADE (Sons and Daughters’ Encounter) said, ” I am the eldest in my family. When my parents want to do something for me, it is not because they favor me. I do think that parents are but human. My idea of favoritism in my family varies from what others believe of favoritism. My parents favor me bacause I give my time to my family. Family means everything to me.”
Most parents have to be a different parent to each of their children. Parents also respond to each child’s age,sex and sometimes position in the family.