Playing Favorites

I've often marveled at a mother's ability to love all her children the same. I know my heart just bursts at the seams when I think of my son and how much I love him. Have I ever wondered if I could love another child as much as I love him? Of course I have. Humans are amazing creatures, though, and there is plenty of love to go around.

I also know from having been a teacher, that you have your favorites. Pets. You try really hard not to show it, but it's there.

My mom has always had a soft spot for my older brother. Last week she called me at work like she often does, and our conversation went like this:

Her - "Boy we had a scare this week."
Me - "Really? What happened?"
Her - "Well, your brother went to the dentist and they sent him to an oral surgeon because he had a growth on his throat and it could've been cancer. They cut it off and biopsied it and it's okay, but I just couldn't sleep all week until I knew. I was just worried sick."

This is the same mother who I had to call to remind that I was having a mole biopsied in May. The same mother who I had to call and tell her two weeks later and a week after the biopsy was back that it was benign. Apparently there wasn't the same level of worry there. I was somewhat hurt and angry that she seemed so worried about him and not so much about me. But, it's always been that way.

And then I remembered - I was my dad's favorite.