It's hard as a parent to NOT be the preferred parent. I've been trying to deny the feeling for some time, but every time I see it (Suhaana preferring Raj to me), it stings. There are just no two ways of saying it! On the other hand, maybe it's the universe's way of saying what goes around comes around.
When I was little, I had my favorites. And that actually continues till date. My dad was my role model when I was young. Intelligent, charismatic, righteous, just - just about everything. I remember when I was 5 or 6, my mom jokingly asked me who I love more, Papa or Mummy. I gave a politically correct reply of "Both". But I don't think there ever was a question about blinded-in-love-role model! So could this be payback time for me?
In my defense, I wasn't really the favorite child for my parents either. For a long time I thought it was only my mom playing favorites. But much later I realized, it was so for both my parents. As both my sister and I grew up, on occasion I was the preferred one but only because she was not preferred - she was in a temperamental stage. I was preferred because of lack of options.
Now the tables are turned. And as a parent, eager to correct the "wrongs", I compensate: a blog to commemorate every nuance of Suhaana's growing up. An email address to store every loving note until eternity. No, we'll not make the same mistakes. We'll make different ones.
I guess for several families, the Mom is the preferred parent, because she's the one who's around mostly, and she's too busy to fuss about such non-issues. And I guess I should be thankful of my situation of equitable division of labor. (I call it equitable, I've never asked Raj what he thinks about it. I've figured it best to steer clear of those discussions!) And yet, here we are. I either need to climb the social charts of likeability really quickly or brace myself for the teenage years to come.
