Evaluate, too, if your behaviors or actions in part may have contributed to your perception of favoritism. For example, if your sister has taken an interest in your mom’s favorite hobby to spend more time with her, that may explain why they are closer.
Try asking after a meal, when everyone is relaxed.
Say “Mom and Dad, the other day when I asked to go to the movies, you told me no, but when Sarah asked, you said yes. I’m older than her and haven’t gotten into any trouble so I’m really confused on why she gets more privileges than me. ”
Say something like “When you punish me for the things Mark did, it really hurts my feelings and makes me resent him. ”
Say something like “When you punish me for the things Mark did, it really hurts my feelings and makes me resent him. ”
If you feel that you can’t talk in person, write a letter or speak over the phone instead. You might say, “I feel lonely when you take Sarah to the park and leave me to finish my homework. "
Don’t interrupt them, yell or curse.
Agree to step away from the conversation if things get hectic.
If you can’t talk to a sibling, talk to another family member. Try to counteract the negative effects of parental favoritism and possible sibling rivalry by cultivating a strong relationship with your sibling that is independent from your parents. You can do this by spending quality time together outside of family functions or making a date to go to lunch. Having a positive relationship with your sibling can help increase the emotional support you feel that you may not always get from your parents.
If some of these issues are present, consider letting it go for now.
If your curfew is at 10PM, come home at 9:45PM. If you’re not allowed to watch certain shows or listen to certain music, don’t do so, even when you’re alone. If you feel that the rules are unfair, talk to your parents.
Consider asking for additional responsibility around home, as well. However, if you have chores to do, but your older sibling does not, this is unfair. Talk to your parents about this rule and ask if your sibling can help you.
If the two of you recently had an argument, say something like “Hey, want to go for ice cream with me? I want to talk about what happened last night. ”
