It seems all adults swear never to repeat the mistakes of their parents. Well, I did repeat the mistake of my father, and I don’t even have kids.
My dad declares with a straight face that he never plays favorites with us kids, yet it is very plain that I am his favorite. That has bred a lot of resentment which my dad seems totally oblivious to. I never wanted the next generation to experience that kind of environment, but I guess it’s true that, without a good example to follow, we are doomed to repeat the mistakes of our parents.
I have two nephews and a niece. I have a very unique relationship with one of my nephews. Is that playing favorites? I don’t think so, but it doesn’t look that way to the outside world, particularly to my niece and other nephew. Now I have perpetuated what my father did to my generation of the family. And I don’t know how to fix it. I don’t know if I can.