The Student Room Group

Annoying family??

So it goes that my family has a bit if a strange dynamic, and being back from uni can be the most irritating thing, especially as i may be commuting this year to save money (restarted because of changing course). U am the oldest of three here (i’m 20) and i feel attacked quite often, as i have a different dad to them (not that it should generally make a difference, but in my case it makes them relatively different from me, not feeling the most like actual siblings), but the real issue is where my mum has 1000% more respect for my sister - i say this with a grounded mind because there is no difference in the way anyone is treated but it’s just the level of respect is irritatingly different. You see, my 3 years younger sister is the outgoing, partying, popular/always having plans type, whilst i am a lot more shy/less social, and i know that my mum HERSELF was also the more studious type like i am, so as our personalities match more she feels okay talking DOWN to me, almost as if i’m a child and it is the most aggravating thing ever, she even pins the others against me, like for example she told my sister i “had a go at” her because my sister used my towel (in reality i had literally just said “why has someone used my towel? It’s fine”, when she speaks to my sister, particularly when she is listening to all the happenings from her time out with friends etc, she will literally put on an accent (the type you would do if you were on the phone to someone higher than you/someone you were keen to impress). It’s just so aggravating to be spoken to like a child/spoken to disrespectfully especially when i know nobody else does that to me, and i’m sick of being compared conscious or unconsciously to sister. I suppose the answer would just be to get closer friends and get away more? I really don’t gave the money to move out this year, especially seeing as last year i was in a very expensive uni town, does anyone have any advice or similar experience?
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Original post by unsweetenedblue
So it goes that my family has a bit if a strange dynamic, and being back from uni can be the most irritating thing, especially as i may be commuting this year to save money (restarted because of changing course). U am the oldest of three here (i’m 20) and i feel attacked quite often, as i have a different dad to them (not that it should generally make a difference, but in my case it makes them relatively different from me, not feeling the most like actual siblings), but the real issue is where my mum has 1000% more respect for my sister - i say this with a grounded mind because there is no difference in the way anyone is treated but it’s just the level of respect is irritatingly different. You see, my 3 years younger sister is the outgoing, partying, popular/always having plans type, whilst i am a lot more shy/less social, and i know that my mum HERSELF was also the more studious type like i am, so as our personalities match more she feels okay talking DOWN to me, almost as if i’m a child and it is the most aggravating thing ever, she even pins the others against me, like for example she told my sister i “had a go at” her because my sister used my towel (in reality i had literally just said “why has someone used my towel? It’s fine”, when she speaks to my sister, particularly when she is listening to all the happenings from her time out with friends etc, she will literally put on an accent (the type you would do if you were on the phone to someone higher than you/someone you were keen to impress). It’s just so aggravating to be spoken to like a child/spoken to disrespectfully especially when i know nobody else does that to me, and i’m sick of being compared conscious or unconsciously to sister. I suppose the answer would just be to get closer friends and get away more? I really don’t gave the money to move out this year, especially seeing as last year i was in a very expensive uni town, does anyone have any advice or similar experience?


I'm sorry you are going through these.Is your mum disrespectful to you?or abuse you?
What is mainly bothering you?the way she behaves to your sister or the way she behaves to you?
Dear unsweetenedblue,

I am sorry to hear how you are feeling in your home environment, the place where you should be able to feel safe and accepted but instead you are constantly being faced with how your environment cannot accept you. I know this feeling all too well and so do many others, because although this is not ideal at the least, is unfortunately all too common.
What you can do about it is a difficult matter, because as you have said you need to rely on parental support given that you are still at uni and not financially stable enough to pay for your own accommodation, which is currently very difficult to access for anyone.
One thing that could work, that might sound like a cliche but is really important is to set boundaries as to the way you value yourself and not letting others treat you any less. This could be something like letting your mum know how the way she talks to you at times feels degrading and when she does it to call it out and inform her that you will only speak with her if she is able to speak to you with the same respect that you give her.
You cannot really do anything about favouritism toward particular siblings, but you can embrace the way you are by acknowledging the value your personality adds to the world; it would be very boring if everyone would be the same/liked the same things, and being less authentic in order to be like someone else is just not worth the stress and people pleasing it entails. From what you have written you come across as someone that accepts themselves so this might not be so much an issue for you but embracing yourself and making sure you evolve to the best version of you can go a long way in ignoring and seeing the kinds of comparing comments you have mentioned for what they are: closed-mindedness that prevents appreciating difference/wanting to get to know and learn from someone, no matter who they are. I am sure you have many qualities that your siblings do not, and vice versa of course; this is what makes the world beautiful.
How do you get on with your siblings? If it is mainly your mum that causes friction between you, it might be easier to amend/enhance the relationship with them and you could even try and set boundaries to your mum's behaviour together.
Do you have anyone you can talk to about these things? Other family members, a trusted friend, mentors/tutors, etc? Also, it is always a good idea to seek professional support if you are struggling, and there are many kinds of therapies/self-esteem improvement/self-discovery etc. programs (on the NHS as well, so free of charge, of course there is a waiting list but still a great opportunity) for all kinds of difficulties that, even if they cannot change family dynamics, can equip you with tools and help you discover the strength within you to divert this dynamic when directed at you while understand the underlying causes - that have nothing to do with you - better.
I know it might sound messed up that it is the person who endures others' immaturity seeks the help, but it will always be the suffering party reaching out for support, and the other party does not - or at least does not know that they do - suffer from the dynamic they cast on the family system or may even feel completely fine/content with the status quo - which of course, does not mean that it is acceptable.
I hope I have managed to give you something useful here, and please do not hesitate to ask any more questions or if you feel like sharing anything else that is bothering you.
There is only so much you can do for your family; right now, the main priority is to safeguard your own well-being in the time that it is necessary for you to stay in your family home.

By the way, where do you study and what did you study before, also what are you studying now?

Viki
Student Ambassador
3rd year Psychology and Sociology Student
University of Suffolk

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