My Favorite Child

Parents:

Out of your brood, do you have a favorite kid?

You know, one that's a little easier, a little more well-behaved, more manageable?  One that you don't worry about dropping off at a friend's house, because you know the feedback will be good.  One that you love just a little more than the others...

Before you get all up in arms, gasp and proclaim, "I love all of my children for their differing gifts and talents.  Each one of them brings something unique to the family.  God gave them to us for a reason, even if they're a handful right now.  I could never have a favorite."

Let's just stop right there.  We all know that those PC remarks are true, but at the end of the day, you know that deep inside your heart, you retort, "Thank the Lord for my sweet, little, fill in the blank."

When I found out that I was pregnant with my first child and expecting a boy, I was elated.  They say that there's a special bond between a mother and her son.  And so, I looked forward to lots of snuggles and special mommy and Sam time and ways that we would connect that no one else could possibly understand.

That didn't happen.  Instead, my husband ended up forming this unbreakable, unbelievably beautiful bond with his son that to this day is magical to watch in action.  They are two peas and have a connection that only the two of them get.

To be fair, Sam and I have a pretty fantastic relationship.  We love and respect each other, but it comes at a price...it's not effortless like that of he and his dad.

We push each other's buttons.  We ruffle tail feathers.  We piss each other off.  We give each other the silent treatment and every now and again, we exchange words.

And so it was this morning, that we got into another disagreement about what is acceptable to do before leaving the house for school.  He always wants to watch a show and I am opposed to screen time before the day really begins.

Back and forth we haggled until I laid down the, "I'm the mom," card and it ended with him being sad on the way to school.

He is incredibly bright, very driven, off-the-charts stubborn, determined, and well, a first born to the tee.  And, so am I.  And so, there's no question that we're more alike than we are different and we're both vying at any given time to be the Alpha in the house.

Where as, my middle child, Kate and my youngest daughter, Claire could give a rats ass.  Kate lives to please and Claire lives to party.  They both know to get out of the way when shit is going down in the house.

So, do I have a favorite child?  I suppose, not really...but damn, it's hard, especially when you're dealing with a little one who knows how to get under your skin like none other.

I have told him that if it gets really bad, I'm not afraid to sell him.  I could make a mint on Craig's List and mama needs a new pair of shoes.

Oh happy parenting.