Does anyone else have this problem? I want to do something with one child, but don't want the other to feel bad. For instance, my dad is flying back home next week and I need to drive hime to the mainland to the airport. I want to bring my oldest and spend a day with her, but I don't want my middle daughter to feel left out.

How do others deal with this? I'm lost.

Plan to do something with your other child the next time. I used to alternate special "alone with mommy" time with my three children. It gave them a chance to show their individuality with me and for me to appreciate that in them. As long as you take the time with each child, you won't give the impression that you're favoring anyone.

That is the best advice that I would also follow. My parents did the same thing with us. My mother would normally ask me to go with her when she goes shopping. Then we could talk about things while buying things. My brother after me usually helps in the kitchen and that's the time they could talk alone. My youngest brother always have a hard time with his assignments so that is the time when my mother could talk to him.

Now about giving special time, my parents usually bring us to a new restaurant in town for the whole family to dine. I could not remember a time wherein my mother would treat just one of us.

We try to just make sure that all three of our kids are included in everything. If there is a time when one gets to go when the others don't, we try to make it up to the ones who had to stay at home.