Sybilla Hart, a mother of five, has addressed her children's accusations that she favors their youngest brother, Benny, by explaining the distinct parenting approaches she has employed over the years. Her comments come after comedian Katherine Ryan openly discussed having a favorite child on a podcast, a sentiment Hart says she can understand, though she maintains she loves all her children equally.
Hart describes a close relationship with her seven-year-old son, Benny, reading him bedtime stories and continuing to breastfeed him until he was four. She admits to fussing over Benny more than her older children, attributing this partly to his younger age and her increased confidence as a parent at 38 compared to her 20s when her older children were born. She also delayed Benny's nursery start until he was nearly three and a half, a year later than her other children, wanting to prolong his toddlerhood.
Hart acknowledges that her older children, who are now teenagers and young adults, perceive Benny as receiving special treatment. She notes that with Benny, she has more time for playful interaction, as her older children are increasingly self-sufficient and less inclined to seek her attention. She also shared an anecdote from Benny's childhood when he broke his arm, revealing her own heightened anxiety and a doctor's comment suggesting it was typical for first-time mothers—a remark that humbled her as Benny was her fifth child.
Hart also commented on the perceived differences in parenting boys and girls. She suggests that boys can be more straightforward and less emotional than girls, particularly during their teenage years, which in her experience, has made her interactions with her sons less emotionally taxing. This observation comes as her eldest son, Isaac, humorously referred to Benny as her 'second favorite child' upon returning home from university.
Referencing Katherine Ryan's on-air admission of favoring her eldest daughter, Violet, due to differing childhood circumstances, Hart expresses that while she doesn't believe in overt favoritism, she understands how different dynamics can arise. Ryan had described her younger children as 'nepo babies' who would benefit from her wealth. Hart, however, cautions against explicitly admitting to a favorite child, advising that it is best for both the parent and child to avoid such admissions.