How to deal with parents who favour another sibling
Parents can always divide their love for their children fairly and equally among all of their children. They have certain favourites that get more attention. This is communicated through attention, praise, and assistance.
Even if you are an adult, you may feel insulted and cheated by the way privileges are handed out because it appears unfair. Within the following content, we have compiled advice that will help you in coping with the scenario in which your parents would favour another of your brother or sister.
6 ways to deal with parents who favour another sibling
1. Share your thoughts and feelings with your parents
Unfortunately, our parents cannot read our minds and are not always aware of how their actions can be harmful to us. Therefore, it is essential to communicate with them about what you are going through currently.
Try to get a better understanding of what the root of the favouritism in your family is before you start talking. This may have something to do with seniority, comparing children’s progress, or meeting parents’ expectations. You should also pick the right time to talk to your parents about it or get their approval on it. If the people taking part in the conversation are not prepared to have one, it will be impossible to have a productive discussion.
You can prepare yourself by writing down your thoughts and the facts demonstrating that your parents favor one of the other children in the family. Because of this, it will be much simpler to keep one’s attention on what matters, rather than giving in to one’s feelings or leveling accusations against one’s parents.
2. You shouldn’t let favoritism get in your relationship with your brother or sister
We go through a lot of feelings as a result of our parents giving their attention and focus to other family members. Envy, jealousy, and disappointment are all possible forms of this emotion.
Nevertheless, regardless of how you feel, unhealthy relationships with or enmity towards siblings should never be brought about by favoritism displayed by parents. They do not always have themselves to blame for the fact that their parents favor them over other children. In addition, siblings often witness such injustice but cannot do anything about it because they do not understand how to change the situation.
In addition to this, mistreating your siblings will only make your parents think less of you as a child in their eyes. In addition, it is improbable that it will assist in enhancing relations within the family.
3. If the issue lies with you, make an effort to change
When you talk about how you feel, your parents can be more open and honest about the reasons why they prefer other children. And we are often our own worst enemies when it comes to favoritism.
For instance, other children frequently spend time with their parents, but we do not even have the time to make an evening phone call due to our lack of availability. Either your siblings should make more of an effort to assist their parents, or they should talk to their parents more frankly.
If you are aware that you are the source of the issue and that making changes could improve things, you should make an effort to change your behavior. Make more room in your schedule for communication, increase the frequency with which you share updates on what’s going on in your life, and offer assistance.
However, there are circumstances in which a parent’s values, personality traits, or fundamental principles do not coincide with our own. Suppose you are aware that the suggested alterations could make your life more difficult or are connected to exaggerated expectations with which you disagree. In that case, it is in your best interest to select a different alternative to reach a satisfactory agreement.
4. Ask loved ones for help
If one of the parents exhibits favoritism, you can request that the other speak with him about it. Alternately, include him in the discussion so that you can gain support and the viewpoint of an impartial third party. Additionally, if you have a positive relationship with the sibling or siblings in question, they may be willing to assist you in finding a solution to the issue.
You may be able to look at the situation more objectively and come up with several solutions if you have a conversation with other people or involve a loved one in it who both you and your parents trust. Additionally, if your voice is not considered to be something significant, the opinion of another person, which your mother and father listen to, can play a decisive role in changing your relationship.
5. Recognize that your parents might not ever change
It’s possible that some parents won’t want to or won’t understand why they should reevaluate how they feel about their children. In addition, even if they have a strong desire to carry it out, it may not always be feasible for them to do so. They love us in the best way that they can.
Even if you have the best intentions, it is necessary to acknowledge that favoritism in the family is not always something that can be eliminated. However, this should not be a justification for harboring hatred or placing all of the blame for one’s problems on their parents.
It is essential to acquire the ability to adjust one’s behavior to accommodate the current circumstances or to forgive one’s parents for owning pets. Regrettably, this is one of those things in life that we have no control over, and as such, we should treat it accordingly.
6. Tell your friends about your experience
If you feel that you are unable to handle the situation on your own, you must seek the assistance of third parties. Have a conversation with a close friend or relative who can offer you support and reassurance about what is going on in your family.
Friends who have been through something similar to what you are going through may be able to offer insight and assistance, as well as a new point of view on the matter.
