I was just wondering how the other siblings felt at being considered Second Bananas?
The truth will come out when the other children leave home. Once they become more independent, the kids won’t have to feign tolerance, enthusiasm and approval for that guy who’s been raised to see himself as the Belle of every Ball.
A sad and artificial existence.
I have seen the phenomenon with other conditions.
When a very disabled or developmentally delayed child is allowed to become the center of the household, for year after year, and with both parents.
Many of those brothers and sisters want as little to do with the disabled child (as an adult) as they can manage.
Most of these people do care about their disabled brother or sister, but they’ve simply had enough with having their own needs ignored or forever postponed. Their own victories are not really celebrated. The parents wonder why Joe and Judy almost never visit. Some parents in such situations never do figure out how the other children feel and have always felt about it.
Very true.