A blog for anyone who needs to know they are not alone in raising a bipolar child.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
When Siblings Suffer
My fifteen year old daughter "Elizabeth" begs often to be sent away to boarding school because she hates being here so much and dealing with Caroline. I really feel for her. My husband is much harder on her, probably too hard, than with the other girls. She says she feel like no one ever listens to her or pays attention to her. She failed her driver's permit test today and now she's really upset. It is hard when I already feel guilty about all that she has gone through, and the things that haven't been a part of her growing up because of Caroline's illness. I pray that she will be able to recover from this dysfunctional home that we never wanted to be this way. I do try to do things just with her, but I feel like I am always competing with her busy social life and homework and Young Life involvement.
The last sentence is the most telling I think. Sure Elizabeth has a less than perfect home situation with her sister, but she also knows how to make you feel guilty! And she knows how to use the guilt you feel against you. She can complain that you aren't spending enough time with her, but it looks like she's filled her schedule and isn't willing to meet you halfway by clearing some of her business to spend time with you! It works both ways even with 15 year olds. You can tell her that I failed my driver's test on my birthday when I was 16! Embarrassing, but a week later I had my license and my world has never been the same since...
ReplyDeleteSorry if this seems a bit harsh, but I think you're giving yourself a bad rap here, sweetie!