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I have a favourite child... I admit it, do you?

Parenting

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When we were growing up, my parents had a special liking for me. Like Joseph in the Bible, I was the apple of my parents' eye. I was their darling even despite the fact that I was the middle child.

My parents liked me because I had all the qualities of an ideal child (obedient, disciplined, hardworking) and for that reason, my name appeared next to everything good. If there was cake or a 'mandazi' and it could not be enough for everybody, it would automatically be mine.

If there was someone to be recommended to go visit the rich Aunty Tess who lived in Kileleshwa, it was me without a doubt. Just like Joseph's brothers were envious of him, so were my other siblings.

Though being a favourite child came with many perks, I, somewhat, hated it because it created a certain rift between my siblings and I. Realising this, I always told myself that if I ever became a parent, I would do my best to love my kids equally. Shock on me.

I am now a mother of two - Tasha ( six years) and baby Troy (two and a half months) and I just realised that I have a soft spot for one of them. Guess which child it is? Did you say Troy because he is the youngest and he is a boy? Wrong. I hate to admit it, and I know I sound like a horrible mother, but I think I adore my Tasha too much. Don't throw stones at me for being honest. For some reason whenever I see this daughter of mine, my heart melts. Don't get me wrong, I love both my children to bits, but Tasha, is my Joseph.

Asking parents whether they have a favourite child is a potentially explosive question; even the guilty ones like me would recoil back with a "No, no, no! I love them all the same," even though deep down they know who they would pick if God forced them to.

There is always a reason why parents adore a particular child and for me, I think it is because Tasha was born premature. I saw how fragile and tender she was when she first came to the world and I vowed to always protect her. Before she was removed from the incubator, she battled infection after infection and I thought she would never make it.

Unlike Tasha who was born a bit weak, my Troy was born strong (of good weight) and tough. Even though Tasha is now a big girl, I still feel I have to put a protective veil around her because she is vulnerable. I have this feeling that I have to offer her extra protection. That's just me... the good news is that God has no favourites.

photo:www.notonthehighstreet.com  

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