Is it normal to be jealous of your children?
Yes, it can be normal to feel jealous of your children sometimes. You might envy the attention, freedom, opportunities, or support they get, and having the feeling doesn’t make you a bad parent.
Parenting can stir up surprisingly complicated feelings. You might envy how much attention your child gets, the chances they have, or even the ease with which they can ask others for help. Sometimes the feeling points to something you’re missing for yourself, like rest, affection, or room to pursue your own interests.
Lots of parents have flashes of envy or resentment, even if they don’t say it out loud. What matters is how you handle it: feelings aren’t the same as actions, and you can notice the jealousy without taking it out on your child. If it’s frequent or affecting how you treat them, talking it through with someone you trust can help.