Family favoritism can have lasting effects on a child’s self-esteem, leading them to feel inferior or unimportant. Dr. Markham emphasizes that parents should focus on understanding where the child’s emotions are coming from and work towards healing those feelings with empathy.
Consistent communication and setting fair boundaries are essential for making every child feel equally valued and loved within the family.This situation raises the question: is it more important to protect a child’s emotional honesty, or should parents enforce strict boundaries even when the feelings expressed are hurtful? How do you navigate similar family dynamics where favoritism impacts your children’s sense of self-worth?