50 Ways Life Seems Unfair for My Kids

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As a parent, I put in a lot of effort to create a sense of fairness among my children. Whether it’s pouring their drinks—where I never fill the glasses too full in case I run out—or ensuring they all hear the same funny stories from their early years, I try my best. I make sure to display equal pictures of each child around the house and enroll them in the same number of extracurricular activities. Yet, despite my best intentions, I often hear them claim that I love one of them more than the others or that life is just plain unfair. After keeping track of their gripes for a while, I must admit they have a point. Here are 50 reasons why their lives feel unjust:

1. They must shower every night if they smell, regardless of prior showers.
2. They can’t have any of my coffee.
3. They’re responsible for carrying their own school bags to the car.
4. Recently, my son Jake found a stray chocolate chip and devoured it, leaving my daughter Mia and son Leo waiting until the next day for their after-school treat.
5. Bread always comes with crust.
6. I won’t let them blast their Minecraft videos on the iPad while I’m busy in the kitchen.
7. They have to wake up each morning.
8. And go to bed every night.
9. I get frustrated when they jump in puddles with new shoes.
10. If it’s below 35 degrees, jackets are mandatory.
11. Eating upstairs is a no-go.
12. Mia gets an extra 15 minutes of TV time compared to her brothers.
13. Because she’s the oldest, she has watched far more TV over the years than they have.
14. They can’t stay outside past 7:15 on school nights.
15. Brushing their teeth is a must.
16. They had to come with me to the drive-thru bank last week.
17. Homework is part of their routine.
18. Outdoor recess gets canceled when it rains.
19. The crust-to-pizza ratio is exceedingly unfair.
20. Mia is the only girl.
21. They have to deal with shoelaces.
22. They can’t ride bikes or scooters inside the house.
23. Leo has to wear glasses.
24. But hey, Leo gets to wear glasses too.
25. We must drive to Florida over spring break instead of flying.
26. Monday mornings exist.
27. They can’t watch PG-13 movies.
28. They have to take off muddy shoes outside.
29. Soda is off-limits.
30. The boys get both a brother and a sister.
31. I made Leo the last waffle yesterday.
32. They must wear helmets when biking outdoors.
33. Sleepovers don’t happen on school nights.
34. Mia is going to overnight camp this summer and will have so much fun without her brothers.
35. Conversely, Mia is going to miss out on fun at home while at camp.
36. Spelling tests are a part of life.
37. Mia used up too much hot water last night, leaving Jake with a five-minute shower.
38. They never get to skip school just because.
39. None of them have their own kittens.
40. No kittens at all, for that matter.
41. Haircuts are mandatory.
42. They can’t choose their own dinner every night.
43. Remote controls are not allowed in their rooms.
44. Getting toenails trimmed is a chore they dread.
45. They can’t use my computer without permission.
46. Thank you notes are required.
47. Mia always gets to do things first.
48. Jake has both an older sibling and a younger one.
49. Leo seems to get babied the most.
50. Vegetables are a necessary evil.

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In summary, while I strive to maintain fairness in our household, my children often see the world through a lens of injustice. Every little rule and regulation seems to add to their list of grievances, making life feel quite unfair at times.