Is it normal to not like one of your kids?
It can happen to feel less warmth or more frustration toward one child, especially during a difficult stretch, and it doesn’t automatically make you a bad parent. If the feeling is persistent, focus on treating each child fairly and getting support rather than letting the distance grow.
Yes, parents can find themselves connecting more easily with one child than another. Different temperaments, ongoing conflict, stress, or plain old exhaustion can make one relationship feel harder. Feelings aren’t a parenting report card, and they can change over time.
What matters is how you treat your kids: avoid comparisons or making one child feel unwanted, and try to notice what’s behind the friction. If this has been going on for a while, talking it through with a therapist or parenting counselor can help you rebuild the connection without shaming yourself. If you’re worried you might take your frustration out on your child, reach out for support promptly.