Tips On Dealing With Sibling Comparison
As the younger sister of Missy.ie writer, Sophie Coffey, Sarah has a lot of personal experience with dealing with sibling comparison as she has spent her whole time in school being called Sophie. She shares some tips with us on how to cope…
Having siblings can be tough. One minute you are swapping clothes and the next, you are fighting like it’s World War 3.
However, the feeling of constantly being compared to them can sometimes drive you crazy. Particularly in school this can make you wonder if people only see you as their sibling and nothing more. I am all too aware of the comparisons that get made between siblings and while it can be challenging, there are great ways to deal with it.
Never be afraid to correct someone else
Sometimes people do not even realise they have wrongly used your sibling’s name instead of yours. This is why they really do appreciate it when you correct them! You may worry it is rude, but people like to know if they have made a mistake and are grateful for the correction.
Explain their mistake
If someone is constantly comparing you to your sibling, politely explain that you do not like being compared to your siblings. This way, they are unlikely to do it again and can acknowledge how much it frustrates you. If you repeatedly overlook their comparison it may feel impossible to correct them in the future.
Take it as a compliment!
It’s worth considering the fact that they may be comparing you because of something positive that either you or your sibling have achieved. Remember that they are not trying to be disrespectful or attempting to irritate you, but are instead aiming to praise. After all, sometimes it can be a compliment!
Brush it off
Sometimes the best thing to do is to just brush it off and move on. I know it is so much easier said than done! However, lingering on the slip-up may lead to overthinking. Sometimes it is just a passing comment and whoever said it is likely to have already forgotten it.
Try Not to Take it Personally
It is important to remember that no one is telling you that your sibling is better than you. They are simply mixing you up and may need an occasional gentle reminder that you are different people. Perhaps they are the kind of person who constantly mixes people up or has a brain like a sieve!
At the end of the day you know who you are and you’re pretty fantastic, sibling or no sibling!
Have you any experience in dealing with sibling comparison? Head over to our Instagram where we’ll be chatting about it on our “We’re All Friends Here’ segment.