When Grandparents Show Favoritism

Favoritism within relationships is almost guaranteed to create resentment, whether the favoritism is real or imagined, leading to barriers that can remain for years and affecting the family as a whole. As a parent, have you seen evidence to suggest that a grandparent shows favoritism toward some grandchildren over others? Have you stopped to ask why this might be happening? All of us develop preferences in our relationships, even among relatives, and often will have good reason for doing so.
It is to be hoped that parents don't display favoritism among their own children, but when it comes to grandparents, there may be valid reasons why they have developed a preference for some grandchildren over others. Understanding the reasons why this happens can help you to deal with it.

FAVORED

Some grandparents have grandchildren that number into double figures and as those children are growing up, they interact with the grandparent in different ways. Some children are more loving and respectful toward their grandparents than others might be. We can understand why the loving and respectful child would be favored over the one that isn't.

Due to circumstances, grandparents may have built a special bond with certain grandchildren just because they have been able to spend more time with them. Some wonderful friendships can be forged between grandparents and grandchildren and it is possible that this type of rapport won't exist with all the grandchildren.

Just because a grandparent seems to show more consideration for certain grandchildren, doesn't mean they don't love the others. It is just a fact of life that we find ourselves drawn to certain people, relatives or not, with whom we form a friendship. The same is true of those who are grandparents.