Mom Needs Help.
By Daddy Neil
@neildc (17239)
Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
June 25, 2008 1:03am CST
In the family of three kids, the youngest child asked the mother this question:
Mom, would you tell us the difference between BEST and FAVORITE? And if I will ask you, whom is your FAVORITE among your children, big sister, big brother or me? And whom among us is the BEST?
The mother find it hard to give her answer so she consulted Mr. Webster.
FAVORITE: A person or thing particularly liked or favored.
BEST: Excelling in all others in a given quality; The most excellent...; The highest degree or state.
Mom came back to her son, but still undecided on whether she will give an answer to the last two questions.
Maybe, my dear mylot friends could help us out here. Should she give an answer to select her best and her favorite child? Would it just put some jealousy between siblings? If you are to weigh the two, which is heavier for you? I can't help the mother without your help, my dear friends...
3 people like this
11 responses
@mimico (3617)
• Philippines
26 Jun 08
I think mothers should never play favorites among her children regarless of whether they are the best or not. A little sibling rivalry is healthy sometimes, but if parents favor one child over the others then it isn't healthy anymore to all the children. The favored child won't have to work hard to earn the parents' approval, while the unfavored child will always feel that what he or she is doing in not enough. Parents should nurture and care for all their children. That is my opinion on this matter.
1 person likes this
@neildc (17239)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
26 Jun 08
but i thought that parents like us, sometimes don't have to say that we favor this kid more the other. deep in side we know that and the kids will feel it, especially the unfavored one.
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
25 Jun 08
I'm going to be very honest here. every one says they don't have a favorite child well I think we all do even if we don't want to admit it even to our selves. I have 4 children and I do love all of them equally but that doesn't mean that I like them all equally but at the same time I wouldn't tell them or let on in any way which one is a favorite. Besides it changes from time to time. There has been times when I didn't like each one because of their behavior. If I had to tell each one of them about being best I would say something like this I like the fact that you do your chores with out my having to tell you all the time and I like so and so's way of being so cheerful and so on.
@zhuuraan (961)
• United States
25 Jun 08
It is impossible for a parent to pick a best or favorite child. There is no way and it wouldn't be fair. I would simply tell them that there is no best or favorite. As for best, I would say that different people, including them, are better than others at certain things. For example, big sister might be best at playing soccer while big brother might be best at playing the guitar and the youngest might be best at writing stories. As for the favorite, since it is supposed to be someone or something you like more than others, explain that you love all your children equally, no matter what they do they are still your children and you will always love all of them, neither any more ore less than any other. For me these statements would be true and so would be honest and not cause jealosy, or at least they shouldn't.
1 person likes this
@neildc (17239)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
26 Jun 08
thanks a lot for the nice response, zhuuraan. happy mylotting...
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
25 Jun 08
A favorite is one who is most favored regardless of the child's qualities. A child can have poor qualities but may still become a favorite. While the best is one who excel in qualities like most obedient, most intelligent, most hardworking, most respectful. However, the best child will not always become the favorite because some parents have different reasons why they favor a child. I believe the best child will reap success in his future undertaking while the favorite child although is emotionally secure may have the tendency to become spoiled and lax. However there are cases when the favor and love being given by the parents will also give the child the needed confidence in order to succeed in life.
1 person likes this
@neildc (17239)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
25 Jun 08
very well said, salonga. thanks for the nice feedback there. keep posting my friend...
@fwidman (11514)
• United States
25 Jun 08
Having raised four stepsons I can relate as this was asked of me by one of my sons. I told him I didn't have a favorite child and that they were all equal. It didn't make sense to them at the time but now that they are grown with children of their own they understand completely. Kids will generally take this information and use it in some sort of sibling rivalry routine. Why can't they all be best and the favorite?
@neildc (17239)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
25 Jun 08
maybe you can have them all your FAVORITEs. but you will surely have only one BEST. am i right, fwidman?
@Shanna8608 (45)
• United States
25 Jun 08
I am a mother of two boys. I do not have a favorite. I do not see how any parent could have a favorite child. I love my children equally. As for who is best, one child could be better at something than the other. But in all fairness you should find something each child is "best" at and tell them that "___ is best at..."
1 person likes this
@neildc (17239)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
25 Jun 08
so that means you can give the higher or the heavier value for the BEST, rather than the FAVORITE? right, shanna?
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
25 Jun 08
nice question..i guess i have to tell her or him that all of them are my favorites and i love dearly ...and all of them are the best..and ill do what i can and their father to send them to the right school and support them morally and financially..
@dhangski (3194)
• Philippines
25 Jun 08
I've been saving my last post for this. I don't tell my kids which one is my FAVORITE, and who among them is the BEST. So as not to put some jealousy between them, I treat them equally. I don't want to hurt their feelings if I say, he is my FAVORITE, the other one is the BEST. And lastly, I don't tell anyone who my FAVORITE is so as not to hurt the feelings of someone. Goodluck! See you soon. 
@jalucia (1431)
• United States
27 Jun 08
I have a feeling that you already know the answer to this question ;) I would not pick a favorite - AT ALL. I would not pick a best either unless I was going to name what each child was best at. Child 1 you're the best at helping mommy bring the groceries in, Child 2 you're the best at helping mommy bake, Child 3 you're the best at helping mommy fold the clothes ... and all three of you are the best children ever.
@guybrush (4658)
• Australia
29 Jun 08
I have four children - now grown up - and I'm glad none of them ever asked me this question. However, I would have to say they were all best and favourite, in very different ways. They all had completely different personalities and interests, and they all had special qualities which made me happy. At times, I was closer to one than another - and at times I was happier with one than another. But I don't think it's possible to select a best or favourite. Not very helpful, am I?
@SwtJenlove (1090)
• United States
25 Jun 08
Wow that has to be difficult, i hope i dont get asked that question by any of mine. i have 2 boys and one little girl.
@neildc (17239)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
26 Jun 08
i also think so, so that's why i asked the help of other mmylotters. thanks and i hope that our kids won't ask the same to us.
