Comment on FAVORITISM in family? by Mayvi
You've got a rough deal there. It sucks when parents favour one child; sucks worse when they make it obvious.
The only thing I can really suggest is to try your best to be wonderful without their constant pandering. You seem pretty mature and independent; it doesn't look like their coddling of your brother is doing him any favours. When it's time for you to go to college, get a job or just move out then you're going to be the one who can handle it while he can't cope and needs your mother to visit every weekend and do his laundry. You could try to discuss it with your parents, but I'm not sure that would change much and it would be very upsetting for you.
I knew a girl in a similar situation to yours, once (the mother is painfully clear that she favours her son over her daughter) and she reacted by going completely off the rails, presumably because she'd rather have negative attention than no attention. She's sixteen now and has been smoking, doing drugs, drinking and sleeping around for about three years. The fact that you're not like her shows that you've done the best you can with a bad situation, in my opinion, and in the end you'll be the one laughing when you've build an adult life of your own and your brother's either struggling or just still living at home.
The only thing I can really suggest is to try your best to be wonderful without their constant pandering. You seem pretty mature and independent; it doesn't look like their coddling of your brother is doing him any favours. When it's time for you to go to college, get a job or just move out then you're going to be the one who can handle it while he can't cope and needs your mother to visit every weekend and do his laundry. You could try to discuss it with your parents, but I'm not sure that would change much and it would be very upsetting for you.
I knew a girl in a similar situation to yours, once (the mother is painfully clear that she favours her son over her daughter) and she reacted by going completely off the rails, presumably because she'd rather have negative attention than no attention. She's sixteen now and has been smoking, doing drugs, drinking and sleeping around for about three years. The fact that you're not like her shows that you've done the best you can with a bad situation, in my opinion, and in the end you'll be the one laughing when you've build an adult life of your own and your brother's either struggling or just still living at home.
Thank you for understanding 
I'm glad you didn't see me as a "kid" starving for attention from her parents as well. Thank you.
I'm glad you didn't see me as a "kid" starving for attention from her parents as well. Thank you.
Nah, you seem to have a lot more spine and independence than plenty of people who make threads here.
The thing to bear in mind is that your parents are ultimately harming your brother, not helping him. The girl I spoke about in my previous comment; her brother is now useless, lazy, doesn't respect his mother at all, steals and generally thinks he deserves the entire world. He's not someone who'll be successful in life. Your brother probably won't end up quite so dramatic, but the basic principle is similar.
The thing to bear in mind is that your parents are ultimately harming your brother, not helping him. The girl I spoke about in my previous comment; her brother is now useless, lazy, doesn't respect his mother at all, steals and generally thinks he deserves the entire world. He's not someone who'll be successful in life. Your brother probably won't end up quite so dramatic, but the basic principle is similar.
"spine" huh? Thanks. Nice boost of self confidence for me there.
And i know what you mean, my moms brother is the exact same way as the girls brother you are speaking about. The EXACT same. He was handed everything in life and never had any responsibility. He has stolen, lied, and thinks he deserves everything on a silver platter. He is now homeless, unfortunately. I love him as he is my uncle and it is sad to see, but he had it coming.
And i know what you mean, my moms brother is the exact same way as the girls brother you are speaking about. The EXACT same. He was handed everything in life and never had any responsibility. He has stolen, lied, and thinks he deserves everything on a silver platter. He is now homeless, unfortunately. I love him as he is my uncle and it is sad to see, but he had it coming.
It's a shame, because people can rarely choose how they're treated by their parents and with stuff like that you can really see how their parents' actions will end for them, but it's hard to feel too sympathetic.
I also find it quite sad that your mom's seen the same thing happen in her family and is now repeating those mistakes =/
I also find it quite sad that your mom's seen the same thing happen in her family and is now repeating those mistakes =/
I agree. But she just doesn't see it.