Fathers and Daughters, Mothers and Sons

I have always found it interesting to see the special bond that seems to exist between fathers and daughters and between mothers and sons.  This is not at all to say that there is not a special bond the other way.  But there does seem to be something about those opposite gender connections in families.  I have had the luxury of interacting with a lot of parents and their children, and there does seem to be something to this.  It makes me wonder why that tendency seems to be there.  Is it simply an "opposites attract" kind of thing, with opposite genders?  And if so, how does this work in homosexually-based families?  I find this sort of thing very intriguing.  I have no experience with those types of relationships, so I really cannot say anything from that perspective.  But for heterosexually-based families, I have noticed what seems to be a tendency for this cross-gender type of connection.  Fathers seem to be very protective of their daughters.  Mothers tend to be very supportive of their sons.  And vice verse on both.  We used to joke about how the only son in my family, the baby brother, was our mom's favorite.  He could do no wrong.  We've seen other instances where the daughter is the father's favorite, because he seems to pay more attention to her than the others.  It does almost seem like a protectiveness.  And it also seems like the will of the parent is sometimes bent when it comes to that child.  The things a daughter can get away with when it comes to her father...It's like the child says, "I want to do this", and the opposite gender parent says, "oh okay, anything you want".  But when the child of the same gender asks, the parent says, "not so fast!"  Yes it seems that sons have their mothers wrapped around their little fingers, as daughters have their fathers.  I would love to hear comments that include any stories anyone would like to share about this subject!