What does it feel like to be the less than sibling?

[Anonymous]

Are you the Pippa to your Kate Middleton-esq sibling?

Is you sibling hotter than you? Richer? More successful? More famous? Smarter?

If so how do you feel? Does it bug you at all or is it a point of pride?

[Anonymous]

I was ready to answer until I read your text.

I am the less than sibling. I am not the golden one (mostly because of who my mom is). It sucks at family gatherings.

As for the fact that my bro is more successful and richer - I don't give two figs. I'm happy for him.

[Anonymous]

He's better educated, has a more prestigious job, earns a lot more, is married, better body, has more friends and a busier social calendar. For example, my niece/his daughter asked to do something with us and the first weekend day he has available is the first one in June.

I'm both proud of him and happy for him. Because we're adults we're rarely compared to each other.

I wish I had people who reached out to me to do things, had money to travel like he does, etc. It makes me feel good when I can pay for things for him - like I share my Netflix with his family, I get access to local attractions through my job and took him and my niece to one a couple of months ago.

[Anonymous]

It wouldnt bother me except for the fact that Im treated poorly by the family. If I was "less than" but still treated ok, I dont think I would care.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, it has been a burden for me my whole life. It's the basis for most of my insecurities. My family values being smart, successful, and slim. My sister has always been exceptional in those areas and I have not. I feel the pain of not measuring up at every family gathering. Intellectually I know this is wrong and shouldn't affect me this way, but I haven't been able to shake it.

[Anonymous]

I guess it depends on whether or not you feel like the "less than" sibling. In the example you gave, for instance, I would much prefer to be Pippa and Harry than Kate and William. All the money and so much more freedom to enjoy it.

[Anonymous]

I am the least favorite child married to the least favorite child. We both have an older brother who is the golden boy as well as a perky younger sister. On both sides, Golden Boy's kids are the favorite grandchildren.

We live away from the extended family and have only had one visit from our extended family in the 10 years we have lived here. Unless we make an effort, we do not see extended family at all. Grandparents are too busy with Golden Boy and Peppy Sis.

In both cases, we are the nerdy middle children. We like each other, and we love our kids -- but it can be very lonely. One of my kids is graduating from HS this year and no one is coming to graduation. one of the favorite grandkids is graduating that same weekend, and no one picked our event. It is what it is.

[Anonymous]

I was the "less than" for a long time. Less pretty, less popular (by a huge margin), less talented, less athletic, etc...

However, I am now more successful, more stable, more happy and more healthy than she. I'm still less than in many areas, but they're mostly the more superficial measurements of actual income, weight, looks, and so on. By all the standards that matter more to me the tide has turned.

I'm not happy about that for her, but it was a powerful life lesson to experience.

[Anonymous]

I am the preferred one. Parents listen to me, depend on me, and prefers me to take care of them. I am the dependable one out of all 5 siblings. It's quite annoying. Can't stand it.

[Anonymous]

Until they're not, OP.

My BIL, my MIL's darling boy, very sadly passed away in the prime of his life. I wish he were still here to lord it over us and make inappropriate jokes.

My mother was looked down upon by all her family until they realized her small, quiet, way of living was actually healthier and saner than theirs.

My DD is more able, more quick-witted and most likely to be successful than my DS with special needs. Guess who is happier? My DS.

There are phases to lives, you know. Don't think everything is set in stone.

[Anonymous]

I was the oldest daughter, the poor one, they all hated my husband, made me feel like unpaid hired help. Now the tables have flipped and I no longer speak to any of my siblings. They call needing money, I never answer. I erase every message they leave on my phone.

We have a very nice life away from all of those people. I rarely, almost never, think about any of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the preferred one. Parents listen to me, depend on me, and prefers me to take care of them. I am the dependable one out of all 5 siblings. It's quite annoying. Can't stand it.

My sister was the preferred one, but when it came time to take care of my father- it was me ( for a variety of reasons). We are both dependable.

Being the dependable one and the preferred one are not always the same child.

[Anonymous]

I’m actually the one with the better degree, House, and HHI but my mom always brags about my brother. He can do no wrong in her eyes. It is discouraging but I try to let her jabs go.

[Anonymous]

My younger sister is smarter, richer, and prettier. We are probably equally successful, professionally.

I am a little envious of the house she lives in, the clothes she wears, and her leisure pursuits, but I realize that most of these are the effects of making better life choices than I did (some of which she made because she had the benefit of seeing the results of my choices).

[Anonymous]

Pippa ended up doing very well for herself. The Middleton brother would be a more apt comparison.