Sons and parents

[RJNorton]

Eva, this is not an exact reply to your question, but W.A. Evans writes:

"Had it not been for the death of Edward at four years, the children would have been close enough in age to have made effective the education and social value of fraternal contacts and influences, without being so close as to overtax the mother's time and energy. As it was, Robert was too old to exercise much influence on the lives of Willie and Tad, nor did they help him much. In the grouping of the children in their activities, we find Willie and Tad in close and constant association, while Robert stood apart. Those men with whom I have talked of their Lincoln associations have referred to themselves as playmates of Robert or playmates of Willie and Tad, but never as playmates of Robert and the younger boys. Had Edward lived, he would have bridged this gap."

Although author Evans is describing the seeming interactions (or lack of) among the boys themselves, and not referring to how the parents felt, I have the idea that the parents did sort of put Robert in one category and Willie and Tad lumped together in another. This could partially be due to the age differences, of course, but it could also be due to Robert being more "distant" due to his personality. I do have the idea that Robert was generally more "distant" from both his parents than Willie and Tad. Just my opinion.