My husband Alex and I have always been in a slightly better financial position compared to my sister Claire's family. This has somehow resulted in my parents going above and beyond for her, while our family receives considerably less attention. My daughter, Emma, who is 7, typically gets inexpensive toys from local dollar shops during gift-giving occasions, whereas her cousins are treated to elaborate LEGO sets, brand-new iPads, and even vacations to Disney World. If Claire needs someone to watch her kids last-minute, my parents don’t think twice. However, if I ask for similar help, I need to give them a notice of at least two weeks, along with paying them for their time.

This imbalance has genuinely affected the relationship between my daughter and her grandparents. Emma barely recognizes them as her grandparents; she usually thinks only of her dad's parents in that regard. Today, we had a rare family gathering at my parents' house. During the visit, Emma asked if she could play on the trampoline, which unfortunately was off-limits as it was "reserved" for my nephews. Despite her pleads, my father refused her request, leading Emma to storm off in frustration, loudly expressing her preference for her other grandparents. My parents then looked towards me, seemingly expecting me to scold her, but I didn’t.

Later, during a phone conversation, my mother insisted I should have corrected Emma, arguing it was inappropriate for her to express her feelings so bluntly. I responded by pointing out that they've never made much of an effort to prove they don't favor her cousins, which led to a silence before she reiterated that I should control what Emma says to family members before ending the call.

My husband supports me, although he has his reservations about my family. But I’m here seeking a third-party perspective: am I wrong in this situation?

It's rare for us to visit my parents; we only do so on festive occasions or under special circumstances, like today when I needed to retrieve a document left to me in a will. Regarding babysitting, I've asked only twice, during emergencies, and both times they were unable to assist. I have broached the subject of apparent favoritism before, but the response always circles back to the notion that we don't need as much help financially, which they say isn't favoritism.

Imagine if this situation unfolded on a reality TV show. Viewers would likely be up in arms seeing the overt preferential treatment and the cold refusal of a child's simple wish like playing on a trampoline. The stark contrast in treatment between the cousins could potentially spark outrage, and discussions about family dynamics and fairness could dominate social media platforms, enticing audiences to tune in week after week.

Are my parents showing clear favoritism?