Do parents and grandparents know when a child (their own) isn't very attractive?

[Anonymous]

I'll share a real case of fraternal twins; they are my friend's aunt's children:

Let's call them John and Eric. Both are now 22 year-olds. John was born very cute even as a newborn; not too wrinkled and a macrosomic baby weighing 10 Ibs. He had a symmetrical face, milky skin tone and two recessive genes; red hair and green eyes. He was like a European doll. He got confused for a doll at a supermarket a couple times. As a child, teen and then adult, he's still attractive. He grew up to be 6'3.

His twin brother Eric was born wrinkled and had typical Andean features such as medium olive-brown skin, straight black hair, dark eyes and weighing like 6.60 Ibs. Unlike his brother, he was never confused for a doll and wouldn't get praised as much by strangers. He grew up average looking and 5'10.

Both the parents and grandparents would claim both were equally beautiful. Whenever people only praised John for being cute, they would say Eric is cute too. Though deep inside do you think they know when a child is really exceptionally pretty vs when they're just average in looks? I know many will never admit it but do you think they know that?

Updates

11 mo

Are they consumed by their deep love that they can't distinguish the difference between a truly gorgeous baby (to the point he's confused for a doll) and an average baby. Or do they really notice it and will never say it?

[SotiCoto]

There are a few things worth accounting for.
#1. Matters of proportional attractiveness tends to be fixed according to the golden ratio. The more someone's features deviate in proportion from the golden ratio, the less attractive they are. Same thing with symmetry, as I'm sure you know. The only exception is which proportions are being compared to which others.
#2. Matters of colouration (hair, eyes, skin) and whether one is more attractive than another differ more considerably by race and personal perspective. There is nothing inherently beneficial about homozygous recessive allele combos in any case. Novelty is not survivability.
#3. Parents will generally favour their children looking more like themselves. Conventional ideas of attractiveness will be set aside because parents are typically looking for a reflection of their own features... since children are extensions of the parents genetically.

The way I see it, while proportions are always a factor, the parental reflection factor is always going to be the biggest influncer of how parents see their own children.

[Asker]

Good point indeed. What would the parents favor if there are different features and races within the family. For instance in the case of the fraternal twins both parents were mixed but had a bunch of family members that ranges from white skin with recessive traits to darker tones. It was pretty much a family (on both sides) that had all types of skin tones.

[slatyb]

Some of us are able to look at our children objectively, but I think most are not. Just because we don't think our child is particularly attractive doesn't mean we don't love them.

[LuXtreme]

Dont you have any other place to TROLL?

[Asker]

I'm asking an honest question. Fraternal twins of different features do exist. Idiot.

[LuXtreme]

What did you just call me? Who you calling idiot?

[Asker]

Parents and grandparents have eyes just like us. Just like I see some men handsome, you see some women pretty.
So if they have eyes, I'm sure they can tell if their child is handsome or average looking but will never say it.

[Asker]

You. I'm calling you idiot.

[Asker]

and what? IDIOT

[LuXtreme]

Wow... how LOW can you go front of my eyes.

Then let me tell you my vision about you. Rude. Bitchy. Spoiled. Whore. Short-fused. Cringe. Incel. Loser. Weak.

[Asker]

You're worthless. Bye

[SoJust]

Yes they can know that

[Danny_dan92]

Yes?