Parenting

[sally]

I know that no parent is perfect but sometimes I wonder how some people even make it as adults. I have a set of parents. They seem fairly smart. Have 2 kids and feel so bad for one of their children. The way they treat him makes you think they never wanted him. The older child is always given new things. He will be brought to my house while they take the older child to the city to chuckie cheese, amusement parks etc. The younger child knows this and he cries over it. It hurts his feelings. Hos sibling brags about everything. The older child will be handed new toys or special treats and the younger one gets ignored. It would be okay if they did this for both kids. Each one given special treatment on their own times. But since I have watched them (2 years) it's always been only the older one is treated special. We try to do fun things for the younger one while I have him but one day I think this is going to cause major issues in his life. Have any of you ever had parents that did this?

[BrooklynM]

How old are the kids?

[sally]

They are 5 and 6. So its not like the younger one is too little or too young to do fun things with

[nannyde]

They are 5 and 6. So its not like the younger one is too little or too young to do fun things with

Any words from them that he was an accident?

[thetoddlerwhisper]

thats highly concerning to me....

[sally]

He probably was an accident. I'm on somewhat friendly terms with them. They have tons of pictures of the older child from birth on but very few of the younger child. Almost all toys in their home are geared for the older child. He gets toys on the basis that the older child doesn't want them anymore or chooses them for him. Its odd to me even if the child wasn't planned. He's a sweet boy.

[Unregistered]

Ah! That is really sad! Poor kiddo!

[bgmeyers]

Pathetic Call them out on it
Let them KNOW that younger child is hurt.
Shame on them
Shame them

[BumbleBee]

Have a set of siblings whose parents are exactly like this. 3.5 & 5 yo. It is sad.

[Holladee]

This is heartbreaking. Poor kiddo.

[MotherNature]

poor guy. My mom used to do this to my younger (now middle) son. She'd take my firstborn everywhere & leave Armand with me. All sorts of fun stuff. She'd bring the firstborn special stuff...and no, it wasn't a special birthright custom or anything cultural...I had to call her out on it, and my dad did too. My younger son would cry and wail about being left out. It was awful; they're only 22 mos apart. Their relationship now is pretty non-existent & she always asks me why he never texts her. She was pretty mean to him though, even into the teen years & got physical with him as well. She actually has paid my eldest's rent, meanwhile...Sigh..(Course, that was to get my daughter to move closer to her after she came out...something my mother severely disapproves of. My mom likes to control things. Anything she does has strings attached.)

[Cat Herder]

Ah, "The Golden Child". There are HUNDREDS of books about this on amazon...

You say "they" treat him different, is it both parents or more one than the other?

[sally]

Well these parent's did it again. Their older child had a birthday in early September and they celebrated it with 3 different birthday parties and 3 different cakes. I know this because my own dd was invited to each party and I was shown all the pictures of each party. The younger childs' birthday is today. I celebrated it here with him gave him a gift, we did fun stuff he liked, fixed hos favorite lunch and he blew out candles on a cake. He hugged me so many times and was so happy. At pick up his mom asked what the gifts were for and when he explained it wad for his birthday she says oh I guess it is. We'll have to get him something I guess. So how does a mother forget a childs birthday? I'm guessing that what we did was the only party he'll get.

[Unregistered]

Well these parent's did it again. Their older child had a birthday in early September and they celebrated it with 3 different birthday parties and 3 different cakes. I know this because my own dd was invited to each party and I was shown all the pictures of each party. The younger childs' birthday is today. I celebrated it here with him gave him a gift, we did fun stuff he liked, fixed hos favorite lunch and he blew out candles on a cake. He hugged me so many times and was so happy. At pick up his mom asked what the gifts were for and when he explained it wad for his birthday she says oh I guess it is. We'll have to get him something I guess. So how does a mother forget a childs birthday? I'm guessing that what we did was the only party he'll get.

Really?! How can a mom forget that?! My heart breaks for that little child!!!

[Unregistered]

That is cruel! I would definitely call her out on it. He could be being abused at home,there are many stories how people will pick one child and abuse,mock,belittle,starve,torture and treat the others just fine.Are there any other signs? Again,that is cruel.Please don't let this go,it's not okay ans someone should address it now before that poor kid is ruined for life.Please be his advocate since his mother doesn't seem to care about his feelings