For some people, starting a family at the same time as a sibling may be a great thing. They bond over the challenges and triumphs of parenthood while their children form an irreplaceable relationship as cousins.
But for others, the experience can be frightening, especially when comparison starts to rear its ugly head and everything feels like a competition.
This 32-year-old woman is sadly in the same situation as her 30-year-old sister. For context, she has a 5-year-old daughter.
“And my sister, who has two children of her own, had a habit of always comparing her children to mine, even if it was unintentional,” she said.
For example, whenever the three children are together, her sister keeps talking about how much her children are progressing, claiming that at just two years old they can already play the piano and read books. I will.
It always feels like my sister is implying that my daughter simply “doesn’t measure up.”
“I tried to brush it off, but it really sticks with me, especially since I’m already dealing with my own insecurities about parenting,” she explained.
So she recently had to make a difficult decision when she was hosting a birthday party for her daughter. Specifically, whether or not to invite my younger sister.
She plans to host a celebration at her home and make it a fun-filled day filled with cake, games, and friends. She also wants the party to be less stressful and fun for her daughter, and honestly, she’s not interested in being compared any more.
Half Point – Stock.adobe.com – For illustrative purposes only, not a real person
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