Family is supposed to be your soft landing, the place you run to, not run from. But let’s be real: sometimes, the very people who should have your back are the ones quietly holding you down. When favoritism becomes the norm, self-sacrifice is expected, and speaking up feels like betrayal, it leaves marks, not always visible, but absolutely real.
One of our readers recently opened up about growing up in the long shadow of her so-called “golden child” sibling.
We received a heartfelt letter from one of our readers, who chose to remain anonymous.
No way in the world that I would give her, or them, anything!!! They have lot of nerve trying to “make” you give up your place!
What makes them think that they have the right to do that? You’d better get a lawyer and a title place involved to make sure that they are not able to take your home out from under you! DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING they give you!
In fact, go no contact with them, period!!! Hi readers. I never imagined I’d be opening up to thousands of strangers about something so deeply personal.
But I feel like I’ve hit a wall, I have no one left to talk to. The people who should’ve had my back were the first to betray me.
My sister Jessica is two years younger than me. Growing up, I always felt like the odd one out in my own family, the “lesser” daughter.
My mom constantly compared us, and in her eyes, Jessica was the golden child. She was prettier, smarter, more talented… At least that’s what I was told, again and again. She got the best of everything: attention, clothes, praise.
And I was expected to understand, to accept, to step aside.
Mom said college wasn’t for me, my sister had the better shot.
When it was time to talk about college, my mom didn’t even hesitate. She told me they couldn’t afford to send both of us to school, and Jessica had “a better shot” anyway.
That was it. No discussion. No remorse.
I didn’t argue. I was already used to being overlooked. I’d been working since I was 16, saving every penny I could.
I just wanted out. So I moved out, worked even harder, and eventually earned a scholarship to a great college. I built my life piece by piece, alone. Over those eight years, my family barely checked in.
The story doesn’t end here –
it continues on the next page.
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