Yup. I have a favorite.

I have a favorite child. And this post isn’t going to be going on and on about how each of my kids is my favorite and blah, blah, blah.

It drives people absolutely INSANE when I tell them I have a favorite. Apparently, as a parent, you aren’t allowed to have one. When the words come tumbling out of my mouth the look of shock and disgust on their face is almost comical.

“You don’t mean that!” “You can’t say that!”

But why can’t I? Seriously?

Let’s think about this for a second, okay folks?

You have a group of friends, right? And out of those friends, you undoubtedly have a favorite. Thinking back through your time in school I’m sure that you had a favorite teacher. You likely have a favorite relative, a favorite sibling, even a favorite parent… you have favorite foods, a favorite drink at Starbucks, a favorite freaking color. Hell, you probably married your favorite guy you dated. So PLEASE tell me why you would think you WOULDN’T have a favorite child?

I also absolutely, 100%, with no doubt in mind, LOVE all of my children EXACTLY the same. So, if that’s what you’re wondering with my favorite child statement, don’t worry. I don’t love one of my children more than the rest.

But loving them the same doesn’t mean that I don’t get to have a favorite. My kids have all been my favorite at different times and for different reasons but at any given moment only one can be my favorite at a time. And you know why I have a favorite child? The same reason you do, even if you won’t admit it. Because I mesh better with that kid than with the others – our personalities are just more compatible.

Bryson is my favorite because of his ability to be so amiable in all situations.

Daylen is my favorite because of his utmost empathy towards all people and things.

Gabriel is my favorite because of his ability to be the biggest sweetheart and funniest toddler within seconds of each other.

Oliver is my favorite because of his mellow disposition.

But if you asked me on any given day, during this season of our lives, which of my kids is my favorite… I would more than happily give you my answer. My kids know which of them my favorite is, but they also know the reason why and they know that I love them all equally. They know that my favorite changes. They know that it doesn’t matter what they do or who they are because I will love them unconditionally with every ounce of my being.

And that my friends, is what truly matters, not which one I mesh with the most, just the fact that they each know my unconditional love for them.

But seriously, I do have a favorite. And in my opinion, it’s okay for you to have a favorite too. I’ll keep going on knowing that in our society it’s kind of frowned upon to admit that. But I raise my kids to be honest and keeping up the facade of Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy… well, I don’t have much room to lie about anything else.