2006-09-24 02:29:54 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Family & Relationships ➔ Family
I don't. At a generic glance, my younger brother and I seem so alike...we have both been married for over ten years, have four children, blah, blah, blah. Dig a little bit deeper and the differences are more strongly apparent...both from an economic and living standard.
While those differences make our living situations very different...I do not feel wiser or better in any way compared to my brother. In fact, it is he who somewhat resents me because unlike him, I am not out in the world begging for money from relatives with one crisis story after another. He has told me flatly that because I make more money, I am lucky. Lucky? I worked hard and endured (and still today do) sacrifices to achieve my standard of living that I am always trying to improve. I'm not lucky, I just push myself.
Am I better Christian? No. Am I better spouse? No. Am I better parent? No. I'm just like him, except my paycheck numbers have more zeros...he has the problem with that, not me.
We may not be apples to apples alike, but we're still fruit and we are still family. So as you can see, it is not only hypothetical that successful siblings can have the problem "looking down" at siblings, but it can be reverse too...some siblings look "up" and burn with jealousy and contempt.
2006-09-24 02:42:56 · answer #1 · answered by lovemcss 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can certainly empathise with Lemmysbabe's point of view.
I would say, from personal experience, that generally the successful sibling actually doesn't look down on the less successful one, but rather is keen to help and assist that sibling to reach their own success. However, the unsuccessful (by personal view) sibling generally I believe, reads this affection as being arrogant, and therefore harbours resentment and grudges, which only get worse as time goes on, through jealousy born out of frustration, inadequacy and ineptness. The jealousy manifests itself in nasty behaviour and comments, and general bad feeling all round, as a means of trying to feel equal (and feel they are regarded as equal) to the successful sibling in an area other than the success, in order to make themselves feel better about themselves.
My experience has shown this situation is generally created from a childhood where one child was always compared to the other: 'Why can't you be like ....? xxxxx is so good/talented - why can't you do do that/ try to be like them?' Instead of receiving the love and praise they should have had as a right to being a separate and different individual. I hate parents saying 'I treat all my children equally'. It's wrong and they shouldn't. They are all different and should all be treated as loved and special in different ways appropriate to the individual.
2006-09-24 02:58:43 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would guess that the successful sibling is more concerned that his/her less-successful siblings will hold the success against him.
2006-09-24 02:34:19 · answer #3 · answered by frank m 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not always, but i suppose on the type of person you are........i suppose i could say i am quite successful, but i love my brothers and sisters unconditionally.........i dont think its to do with being successful its just that you care and i know coming from a poor background that you have to work to achieve your goals in life, and if i can do it anybody can!....so its more the fact of what you know they can do!, i would never look down on anyone as i am still just the same as everyone else!
2006-09-24 03:42:50 · answer #4 · answered by killan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no way im a single parent and so is my sister but ive got off my backside and made the best of my life and my sister has had the same opportuities but just been to lazy and shes hated me and has tried many times to upset my home life with her jealousy,it even makes me feel guilty of being more successful than her.
2006-09-24 02:35:30 · answer #5 · answered by candyfloss 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so. They usually tend to help the less successful ones.
2006-09-24 02:37:02 · answer #6 · answered by B i n g o 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your young & successful, I'd say yes, if your older & successful probably not. Also, may depend on the relationship you have, if its good, then probably not, if its not good then for sure!
2006-09-24 02:32:26 · answer #7 · answered by 17 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that depends on how they were raised - how comeptitive they were, etc... Personally, my brother and I have had several years of one outearning the other by a few thousand dollars...and we have a little laugh about it and move on. It is just money.
2006-09-24 02:34:57 · answer #8 · answered by applebetty34 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes
2006-09-24 02:33:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It hasn't happened in my family.
2006-09-24 02:32:10 · answer #10 · answered by ...mr2fister... 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋