5
Yes, Your Parents Did Have A Favorite Child
Halfpoint/iStock/Getty Images
If you grew up with brothers or sisters, odds are you grew up with the constant feeling that your parents favored one of your siblings over you -- unless, of course, you were the favorite, in which case fuck you.
yshawty/iStock/Getty Images
You entitled little shit.
But this perceived favoritism was probably us projecting our own insecurities onto our family situation, right? After all, once we mature and reach adulthood, we realize that parents don't play favorites; they simply try their best to give each child what they need when they need it, and sometimes one child needs more than another. For instance, a toddler is obviously going to require more attention than your 10-year-old self, because at that age, your needs are fully met by Van Damme movies on cable and Chef Boyardee.
Well, we hate to be the bearer of bad news, but according to science, Mom really did love your older brother more than you. Studies have shown that 65 percent of mothers have a favorite child (usually the oldest boy), while 70 percent of fathers claim to have a favorite (usually the youngest girl). And seeing as how admitting to loving one of your children more than the others isn't something people traditionally take pride in, those numbers are most likely underreported. In other words, science completely backs the "mama's boy" and "daddy's little girl" stereotypes. Another stereotype that science can totally get behind? Middle children are endlessly put upon. That show with Frankie Muniz was pretty much a documentary.
monkeybusinessimages/iStock/Getty Images
"Dad, can you buy a tripod so I can be in the picture too?"
"Son, you're nature's tripod."
547 Comments