Is it right for parents to help out one of their kids if they can’t do it for another?

One of the trickiest things about being the parent of more than one child is giving them treatment that is just about equal. The ups and downs of the various life stages mean that it is inevitable that some are going to get more attention than others at times, and then it may be that one kid simply has an easier time getting on with a parent than another one does. The balance is always changing.

Of course, there are plenty of families where choosing a favorite is not seen as an issue and, in fact, ends up being encouraged to the detriment of the less-appreciated child. While there is a debate to be had about how acceptable it may be for a parent to like one of their kids more than the other, there is no denying that it can be damaging when they make no effort to hide that fact. When they start with the preferential treatment, it is inevitable that the neglected siblings will start to feel some resentment. It doesn’t bode well for the future of the family relationship.