My Favourite Child

Every parent who has more than one child will relate to being accused of favouring one child over another.  I am the mother of three sons who were born in a five-year span, and I may have heard this plaintive moan a time or two.  Now that my boys have all grown into young men in their twenties, I will finally reveal who my favourite child actually is.

Firstborn son, it is you.  You were a miracle from the moment I knew of your existence.  I anticipated your birth, your breath.  You were the first grandchild on both sides of the family.  You were the “community baby” in the small town in which you spent your first three months.  You were so loved and wanted, not only by your parents, but by everyone!  As you grew and I got to know you, I admired your intelligence, wit, your way with words, and confidence.  You were such a social being and yet such a homebody at the same time.  For all of these things and more, you are my favourite child.

Secondborn son, it is you.  You were the little brother we were all waiting for.  Do you remember your big brother, not even two, kissing your little blond head and declaring it “hot”?  You were shy and hid behind my leg, and followed your brother around as though he were your hero.  As you grew and I got to know you, I admired your amazing musical talent, your ability to easily make male and female friends, and your strength of character that made me know you were going to do it your way.  And yet with that strength came a vulnerability too.  For all of these things and more, you are my favourite child.

Thirdborn son, it is you.  Three boys; who knew?  We never hoped you’d be a girl.  We just prayed for another beautiful, healthy child, boy or girl.  You were like a little wildcat, a spitfire, a diamond in the rough whose beauty and light came through more and more with each passing year.  As you grew and I got to know you, I admired your wisdom, the strength of your convictions, even as they differed from mine, your spiritual expression and your unstoppable joy.  For all of these things and more, you are my favourite child.

So you see, you are all my favourite.  You are each so different, and hold a unique place in my heart.  Maybe you are private and secretive; maybe you tell me everything!  Maybe you are so like me it’s almost scary sometimes, or maybe we are so different that it is surprising we are related!  But I have always loved you deeply and completely every day of your life.

I love you differently as you are so different from each other, we have different relationships with each other, but it’s never about “more” or “less” love.  And nothing brings me more joy than when I see you all together, the three muskateers, talking in tongues as though you have a secret language (part English, part video gamespeak and part movie dialogue!) like twins do.  Nothing brings me more joy than your love for each other.


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