August 28, 2008
-
Family Favorite
Although most parents will tell you that they love all their children equally, recent research indicates that most people can tell who is the family favorite.
Most family members can also identify who is the “black sheep” of the family.
Research showed that 69% of people could identify who was the family favorite while 80% could identify the “black sheep.”
One of the leaders of the study said that the middle child is rarely the favorite. The favorites are usually “the oldest or the youngest,
or the only boy or girl in a family dominated by one sex; or the
child who shared a parent’s interests and outlook.” Here is the link: LinkWho was the family favorite in your family?
Comments (127)
I’m not sure, though I can tell you who isn’t.
Me, of course.
I’m the oldest, so ogre is the favorite …
me
Ha, definitely my kid sister.
I was.
After my mom died, I somehow shifted into the black sheep position.
Sucks, I’ll tell you. It’s like being demoted.
my parents pay most of their attention to my older sister. they don’t know much about me. (haha)
For my mom, I think it’s my brother. He was her first child, and the only boy. I don’t think we really have any black sheep in the family.
I think that’s depended on our ages… I can tell you from age 11-18 I was a “handful” as they now graciously put it, and I sure as hell was not their favourite. My sister was a monster child though so during that time I bet they liked me more.
my mom like my brother better, my dad liked me better, after my dad died nothing changed. about that.
my mom loves us the same but My brother has always been her favorite.
no favorites here, we all hate each other equally like a good normal american family.
me.
I’m the youngest, and I think my parents worked out their parenting-style the best with me, so I wasn’t as screwed up as my other siblings, haha.
Well my sister is definately the favorite, and of course Im the black sheep of the family. My dad, he doesnt even know me. My mom she has more in common with my sister than she does with me. I guess I was born to be a loner!
My brother used to be the favorite until I came along. =P
The middle child…me!
There is no “favorite”, but the youngest, my little sister, gets away with the most.
Birth order is quite fascinating.
Though I’m not the typical middle child . . . Having a ton of friends isn’t important to me and I’m not rebellious.
My brother was definitely my mother’s favorite. He was the only boy. My sister the middle child was/is the black sheep so my family seems to fit with the findings in the study.
Me.
I hate to admit it, but I am probably their favorite. I was the easiest teenager, and the self-motivated, over-achiever child. Now that we’re grown, though, I think we’ve evened out mostly.
My husband is decidedly my mother in law’s favorite. She doesn’t even try to hide it, I think she’s even proud of how she plays favorites with him over his sister. I think it’s pretty destructive to the sibling relationship.
I’m the middle child. My older sister is the favorite, my younger sister is the black sheep at times, although I deserve this title.
I’m not sure. I think the middle sister is seen as the black sheep. It used to be my brother as he was the baby and the only boy. But it could be my youngest sister. I have no clue!!!
I’m the middle child, so EVERYONE ELSE was the favorite. I won’t go into the black sheep part, since both my brothers read your site.
my grandparents loved me the most. my cousin and her dad/my uncle were the black sheeps. I think my parents are the most loved among my uncles and aunts by my grandparents, because they are easygoing and successful (my grandfather adored his son-in-law). At home I don’t think we have favourites, because my brother is disabled, so you can’t really compare him with me.
btw, my mom was the middle child and the black sheep is the only son
My brother. He’s smarter than me and he always does his work, wheras the school’s always calling my parents about late coursework and how I’m constantly causing trouble, so they tend to favour him.
Hard to say, really..I mean, sometimes I am, yet not..
Me. The only girl sandwiched between two brothers. Plus I screamed the loudest.
That would be me (the youngest). Everyone knew it =)
It depends on who you ask. Ask a middle child and yes they say THEY are the least favorite. Ask the older and they say the younger, the younger will say the older. I was a middle child but the only boy, and I wouldn’t say I was the favorite…the favorite boy YES…DUH!!!! Do the tax payer actually PAY for these stupid studies they do. How ridiculous is that. It is sad that some parents DO have favorites. In our case it wasn’t favorites, our youngest has a disability now even more so with the loss of her leg, so off course they need more attention. This gets misinterpreted as favoritism. I think thats what happens a lot in families. It’s just the selfishness of humanity the causes it to be made into favoritism. SAD!!!!
def the black sheep in my family. =[
there’s only me. and i’m not even the favourite. hah. sad much?
ummm….
ok, so, i’m the oldest and the only girl. what can i say?
although, my middle brother caleb comes in an EXTREMELY close second
Im the black sheep in the family. Either my older brother or younger brother. I think younger brother even though its a close gap b/w them
i am an only child – and i can tell you i am absolutely sure it wasn’t me.
among myself, and my 2 first cousins, i was definantly the black sheep, which oddly enough made me the favorite. for graduation i was given a brand new car, and my cousin the same age as me was given only $100. wow…
My brother, without a doubt.
I’m the “black sheep.”
My older brother. He goes to Stanford. He isn’t psychotic. I don’t stand a chance!
I can truly say that Mom didn’t play favorites. I accused her of it on occasion but she worked far too hard to make sure we were all treated equally.
Between me and my brother, I have no idea. I can honestly say that I truly believe my parents love us equally. Like my brother plays hockey and his team always wins and he’s really good, so they’re generally proud of him for that. But then I get the grades [most of the time haha]. So we’ve got the athletic child that I can tell they’ve always wanted, and then they have the smart child that I know they’ve always wanted.
Me and my brother are polar opposites, so I think they got a nice even balance.
My brother….the youngest.
This is such an easy question….my youngest brother has always been the favored child, and I am the black sheep.
My big sister. I was (am) the black sheep. baaa!
I was definitely the black sheep
I was, although it isn’t quite a fair question since I was an only child. On the plus side, I did have a lot of animals and imaginary friends and somehow they still chose me. Wow, I feel so loved!
I grew in a family of 9. 8 girls and 1 boy. My brother was the second youngest and surprisingly not the favorite. The favorite of my parents would either be my youngest sister or third oldest sister. And the black sheep: ME. Although my two other sisters claim that title too.
My sister. I was the black sheep.
Me
this make me feel bad to admit that… it’s true…
i’m the oldest in the family soo… i am their favorite…
my parent sometimes make it seem a little bit too obvious..
and that make me feel bad.. and sometimes it doesn’t seem fair to my little sister…
only child.
In my whole extended family it’s me. My dad is always bragging about how I graduated high school in honors and now I’m in college with a job living on campus. In my family I’m like the “perfect example”. He makes me always sound so goody two shoes and I’m not. Damn him
I’ve always been the favorite.
My brother was generally the least favorite, though my sister has been vying for the spot recently, apparently.
I think it’s the same in my family. Although my sister just became a teen and is hating the world so my parents get irritated with her more often than me haha
My older sister. She always has been. The black sheep on the other hand used to belong to my younger sister but now the title is mine.
my 1st daughter is definitely my favorite
but out of my brother and me, I’d say my brother was my mom’s favorite…and still is.
A combination of both the black sheep and the favorite.
My family thinks I’m insane and a bit eccentric, but endearingly so.
My twin brother that I killed and absorbed in the womb. I think if you open up my head you will find some of his teeth embedded in my brain.
And one eyeball.
I am a mother of 4 and I don’t love my kids equally. I love them differently. I have loved my oldest longest because he has been alive longer so on and so fort. I love them differently because they are different. But as far as my parents to….they loved all my brothers much better than me.
@saintvi - Thats ok I know that I am the black sheep and have been for most of my life.
As for the favorite,if I had to guess it would be the one who would play Chopin and Bad Bad Leroy Brown on the piano.
my younger brother is my mom’s favorite. i dont know about my dad, its hard to say. but i’ll always be the “baby girl” so…
although, i have to say that i definitely have a favorite parent…my dad. my mother drives me nuts.
well lucky me i am the favorite of course i am the only… does that count?
My parents probably think I’m the lesser of the two evils (between my younger sister and I), but knowing myself more than what my parents know, I’d have to say I’m actually the black sheep.
that’s an easy one. everybody but me! haha. my sister is the oldest and first everything (first child, first niece, first grandchild), then came me (second daughter), then my brother who’s the first boy, and the youngest who happened to be another boy.
so you see, second daughter gets crapped on. but it’s ok! i’ve learned to cope.
i think the most recent favorite would have to be… the youngest one. ’cause he still acts like a baby at the age of 8. so everyone babies him. *shrug*
Acutally, I probably was, at least in my immediate family. I was the only girl, plus I gave my parents the least amount of trouble. In my extended family, it would be difficult to tell, because I have 18 cousins on my mom’s side, but we’re all pretty spaced apart when it comes to age and most of us are married.
My younger sister was the favorite, but I’m sure about the black sheep. Maybe my cousin who likes to launch C-batteries out of a cannon.
Only son was the fav, I (middle) was the black sheep. Although over the years, it turned around and I think now I’m the fav (yeah, they know who they can count on to take care of them as they get older)
I am the only child, sort of. My brother had a different mother but lived with us and so my mom was basically his mom as well. But because of this I think that we are both looked at in the same light. I don’t think either of us is really a favorite.
For my dad, my sister hands down.
For my mother, that’s a little tricky. It may be me, but I think my brother is catching up.
There’s no blacksheep.
me…
I am definitely my dad’s favorite, and I”m in the middle of five boys and girls for him. My mom, I truly believe, loves us (she only has three of my dad’s five) all the same.
It has shifted–for a while, before my sister hit puberty, it was her, because I was horrible to be around until I was 15. When I turned 15, my sister turned 11 and started her middle school phases, and I became more pleasant–thus, I attained favoritude.
AND I’m the middle child.
you should join blogger.
Most definitely the next youngest sibling down from me. Even though he’s a middle child, he got the most attention.
Then again, I could be it.
my younger brother thats 8 years younger than me and 11 years younger than my older brother is the family favorite.
I’ve definitely become the black sheep since coming to college and actually forming my own views and opinions on the world (not even that bad/different from my parents, but enough to be the black sheep).
@TwigZ1 - Blogger is for people who love shelling out money so they can have their own domain name.
Honestly? It really was a tie between my sister and I. She was the oldest, and I was the youngest.
My cute younger sister is my mother’s favorite, and my genius older brother is my father’s favorite. Being the middle child, I’m largely ignored.
My parents like my sister better.
Eh, I think my brother gets special treatment a little bit more but there really doesn’t seem to be a favorite.
Middle child – my sister. I’m black sheepish.
Hahaha…. I don’t think there was a favorite in our family. Oddly, I don’t even think the one they cater to is their favorite. I was definitely (and still am) considered the black sheep, even though others in the family have gone to the point of cutting everyone else off (which I have not nor will I do) … ah well. Family dysfunction at its best.
Yay, that means I’m the favorite! At least one good thing that came from being the only girl between 7 brothers. I do think it’s correct though, I have to admit I am a bit spoiled (no hand me downs for me in the past, cos I needed girly clothes) and I know all my brothers love me to bits (even though I annoy them sometimes or dissapoint them). The downside is that in their eyes I’ll always be their baby sister and that they’re also very protective and well… lets just say any love intrests I’ve had were thorougly questioned.
I can’t really say we have a black sheep in the family. We’re pretty close and I think ‘role’ (or something a bit alike) gets passed on from time to time.
My older brother definitly. lol That’s very interesting. People a lot of times say that there isn’t a favorite. NOW WE HAVE PROOF!!! MAHHAAA Ok that was scary.
As I was an only child, the dynamics were- and are- different.
My mother was the favorite. My father and I had to share her conversation and attention, and there was resentment
I was my dad’s favorite, so my mom compensated by favoring my brother (and spoiling him). What a genius plan THAT was…not.
I’m both the favorite and the black sheep.
me. i am the oldest, better behaved child
My younger cousins.
It used to be my brother.
I’m not sure, my parents have been pretty equal with my brother and I. I’m the oldest and was born with a cleft lip, so a lot of attention went my direction for various reasons early in my life, but my brother’s needs and wants were never ignored or denied. I’ve never noticed one of us being chosen over the other, though issues like living on our own has been different, but I think it’s due to girl vs. guy stuff rather than favoritism (my parents worried like crazy when I got my apartment (though I handle finances better than my brother), but my brother had total support when he got his). My parents are my best friends and so is my younger brother; I’ve always watched out for him and taken care of him and we’ve gotten along well. I don’t think the concept of ‘favorite’ and ‘black sheep’ exists in my immediate family, however, with my other relatives there are most definitely a couple favorites and black sheeps.
Me….my little sister has an insane temper that my parents just can’t stand, where as I am very laid back.
My younger sister. I’m definitely the black sheep in the family.
Growing up, it was my sister, because she is the youngest. These days, it is definitely me.
i’m the oldest but never was the favorite, it’s mostly my younger brother becouse he get’ll away with anything… i never really cared about the”favorite”… as long i don’t pay rent for my small room, i’m fine. lol
My parents say they love us “just the same”. Which as we all know is bull. xD
But.. the black sheep of the family is probably me. Yeah… definitely. Fine by me, I don’t want to be like them, that’s a little too conformist for me.
The favorite would have to bethe oldest in my family, and secon oldest is the black sheep, or me.
The sad thing is they don’t notice it, and deny it.
I’m my mom’s favorite, but my brother is my dad’s. It all works out.
DEFINITELY my older brother…
kinda hard to tell with two kids though
sure wasn’t me
@lotta_valdez - It ain’t so bad being a black sheep! Take it from one.
My brother, because he’s my paternal grandfather’s only grandson. Rumor is that he’s going to inherit the stash of gold coins that Grandpa hid during WWII.
Used to be my brother, now it’s me.
Not tooting my horn; there’s only two of us and if he’s not the favourite…
The black sheep is probably my niece.
I was. I haven’t fucked up quite as badly as my siblings have so far, so I’m in the lead.
Tough question.
Well it certainly was me for most of my life. The only child and all, I was also the least favorite child
I’m the black sheep. And I bet I’m the favorite!
Me. Mwahahaha.
I’m serious though.
My mom and I have something we have termed ‘middle child syndrome’. All of the bitchiest people I know are middle children. Hmm?
I wouldn’t say that there were favorites — although all three of us claim that the others are the favorites at different points in time. I think our parents love us differently. But, I have to say that I get along with my parents better. So, we’re closer in that aspect. However, I would never claim “favorite” status.
my older sister by a long shot. bitch.
me.
until i tell my parents about my change in religious beliefs, then i will be the black sheep.
In my family, my little brother’s the big thing.
He’s a mama’s boy, dad’s little guy, my sister’s (she hates me to death) doll, and frankly, I love him too.
The black sheep is my sister. She just is.
I’m a polka-dot, rainbow, with cat ears sheep. I don’t belong at all, but I’m kept because I’m interesting.
It’s not good or bad.
Aw that picture makes me sad.
My older brother hands down! It’s so obvious everyone knows but, my mom refuse to acknowledge it. My parents claim to treat us equal but, that’s not true. Even my brother test it out to see if they love him more by doing something so stupid, totally his fault but blame it on me. The fall for it. I’m the black sheep of the family. They compare everything I do to his success. And ask me why I’ll always comparing to him. Don’t they see what they are doing to me. Parents!
I would say we were pretty much equals.. Not only that, I think in most families the kids are thought of equally.. But how parents act towards their children, is often misunderstood and misinterpreted as favoritism. All kids are different, and as such should be treated differently. So even if one child may seem like he/she is the favorite, it may just be that the kids were treated differently because of them being different. Kids shouldn’t be loved differently, but that doesn’t mean their needs aren’t different.
Me ’cause I’m an only child.
my brother. oldest and only male amongst the girls. it’s not just immediate family that likes him either, it’s pretty much everyone, especially old people. he’s good with old people and kids.
it’s kind of funny how all my immediaet family tries to make him laugh or whatever whenever we see him, including me.
i guess my sister who is the middle child is the black sheep because she married an asshole. she doesn’t quite fit into our family.
my sister was my mom’s favorite, whereas my mom and i didn’t get along, and i think i am my dad’s favorite while my brother dislikes my dad. i’ve always gotten along better with my brother and dad than my sister and mom. hmmmm..
and maybe i’m all the typical youngest sibling things too, i don’t know cause i’m not sure what they are.
I could agree I’m the youngest
To my mother my older sister was for a while and then my second oldest sis was from the time she gave my folks their first grandchild. For my dad my sister just older then me was I am the youngest and the sickest so he barely wanted to be in the same room with me. My mom and I talk a few times a week though but I am the one who does all the calling. I am pretty much the black sheep. I think it is because I had some many medical needs growing up that I drained my mom emotionally. My dad never bothered getting attached to me because my mom says I wasn’t supposed to make it. I just think that was an excuse.
My mom favored my brother (the oldest, and only boy out of 5 kids), and my dad favored my sister Ann (who was number 4). I ‘m the black sheep.
My middle sister. She’s very similar to my mom and they are very emotional and filled with anxiety. They are very draining people, and my other sister, myself, and my dad spend many days trying to avoid the “bombs” or “explosions” of drama they set off.
Some days I think I hate her.
all i know is that i am definately not the favourite, but certainly the black sheep. there are many reasons for this.
being adopted id like to think i am the favorite since they did have a choice with me
the more rebellious, the more favoured
The family favorite is 100% absolutely my brother. He’s the only boy, and the youngest. I’m the second daughter and the middle child.. I might be the black sheep.
the middle child. she was the only one born vaginally.. we have one guy in the middle… girls are the youngest and eldest… my mom would say the boy is the black sheep… but we know it’s our middle girl. she doesn’t share our parents’ interests and does worse than any of the other kids… but she’s still the favorite. i think our parents know that… she knows it too. =( i guess research was wrong… or our family is weird *sigh*. won’t change a thing though….
not me my little sister
think im the favorite but idk..
Our cat!
I would deff be the favorite.
lol, I’m the favorite and my brother who’s one year younger than me is the black sheep, i’m the oldest and he’s second of four