If you have more than one child, you've probably heard it.
“That's not fair!”
And sometimes they're right.
But sometimes what they really mean is:
“You didn't treat us exactly the same.”
Those aren't the same thing.
One child may need more help.
Another may need more freedom.
One may need a longer conversation.
Another may need some space.
One may be ready for a privilege at 14 that another isn't ready for until 16.
Good parenting isn't about giving every child the exact same thing.
It's about giving each child what they need to grow.
That won't always look equal.
And sometimes that will bother your children.
It may even bother you.
But your job isn't to make parenting look perfectly even.
It's to parent the child in front of you wisely.
This Week's Reset
Notice one area where you're treating your children the same simply because it feels fair.
Ask whether they actually need the same thing from you.
Ask Yourself
Am I treating my children equally because it's best for them—or because it's easier to defend?
