Do not let favouritism get the best of you

Having parents who show favouritism hurts a great deal especially when you are not the one being favoured. Do you have a brother or sister who gets all of the attention?

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Having parents who show favouritism hurts a great deal especially when you are not the one being favoured. Do you have a brother or sister who gets all of the attention? Do your parents make you feel like you are adopted and therefore more love and care is given to the rightfully born kid? It happens and it is hard to deal with, but that should not put you down. What do you do when you find yourself in such a situation? First, much as it hurts you need to know that not being your parent’s favourite is not the end of the world. This does not mean your siblings are better off than you so try not to let this affect your self-esteem.Before you jump to conclusions that your parents favour your siblings more, confirm whether it is favouritism by looking at all sides of the issue. Your parents may relate differently to your sibling, and act differently around them, and that does not come down to favouritism. Consider the possibility that parents may not realise how you feel. Make a list and write down examples of how they show it and how it makes you feel. Approach your parents when both of you are in a good and calm mood. Ask if you can speak with them about something important, and make sure your tone is non-accusatory. State your grievances then wait for their response.  Do not blame yourself or your siblings. Jealousy makes it hard to avoid blaming your siblings, and anger makes it even harder for you to avoid blaming yourself. However, blame does not solve the problem.Avoid seeking for their approval in everything. Have pride and confidence in yourself. This will help you realize that you are just as good as the others.Lastly, try discussing the issue with your siblings. You may find that you both feel like the other is the favourite so discussing the issue might help.