Parents Spot Favorites in Everyday Routines
Parents of several kids can spread one-on-one time evenly so no child feels singled out at home.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Pre-Teens
Jenna Bush Hager said on the Tuesday, November 3 episode of Today with Jenna and Sheinelle that she does not have a favorite child, though her children repeatedly tell her their youngest brother, Hal, 7, is her favorite. Bush Hager, 44, shares daughters Poppy, 11, and Mila, 13, and son Hal with husband Henry Hager.
Why it matters
For families with several kids, the episode is a familiar question with an everyday answer: siblings often pick out a favorite parent-child bond even when a parent says they have none. It also shows how a parent can keep a lighthearted family conversation going on a daytime show without picking a winner.
Hal, 7, is the youngest of three and is described as having heart-eyes when his mother comes home and asking her to read with him in bed. Bush Hager said her children, Poppy, 11, and Mila, 13, repeatedly tell her Hal is her favorite.
The players
Jenna Bush Hager
Host of the daytime talk show Today with Jenna and Sheinelle, a former White House figure and author who shares three children with her husband.
Today with Jenna and Sheinelle
A daytime NBC talk show where the episode aired, covering family life and everyday topics for a wide audience.
The details
Bush Hager explained the situation during the November 3 episode, saying her children keep naming Hal as her favorite even though she says she does not play favorites. The reported clues are everyday ones: Hal lights up when she walks in the door and wants her to read with him at bedtime. Parents of multiple kids can use this kind of moment as a reminder that a child's sense of being the favorite often comes from small, repeated routines rather than any stated preference.
Timeline
August: a multigenerational family photo was posted from the Bush estate in Kennebunkport, Maine.
Earlier in August: Bush Hager posted a birthday message for Poppy on Instagram Stories.
Tuesday, November 3: Bush Hager discussed the favorite-child question on Today with Jenna and Sheinelle.
The Home Front
Sibling-favoritism questions come up often in family-life coverage and tend to reflect the day-to-day closeness that develops between one child and a parent. Researchers who study sibling differential treatment have documented that kids often perceive a favorite even when parents insist they treat everyone equally.
If you parent more than one child, notice the small routines, like bedtime reading or greetings after school, that may leave a younger or quieter sibling feeling singled out. Consider scheduling one-on-one time with each child so every kid has a comparable chance to feel special.
The takeaway
A child's sense of being the favorite usually grows from repeated moments of attention, so spreading those moments across every kid can ease rivalry. Keep a simple calendar of one-on-one time with each child to make that balance easy to track.
Further reading
Explore more family-life coverage in our Pre-Teens section for ideas on handling sibling dynamics at home.
