Recent studies show that having siblings is bad for a child’s self esteem!
You don’t believe me?
Well, it comes from a reputable source -
My Childhood!
Today I received an email spam about some e-book to “Protect Your Child’s Self Esteem”.
I was curious and took a look at the site.
I then proceeded to follow links to read more about protecting and maintaining my child’s self esteem.
Let’s take a look at some of the information that seemed pretty common sense to me.
- Offer unconditional love
(Wow, what genius wrote this article!) - Be a good role model and show that you have good self esteem
So I should stop tweeting about *smacking my forehead*
That’s not setting a good “self-esteem” role model. - Listen to your children
I understand that.
But seriously, after the 100th time of “Mom, he did this. Mom, she did this. Mom…”
Well, this mom isn’t in the listening mood!
And the list continued on like this.
The list had things I did/tried to do as a parent.
But aren’t these just common sense things most parents do?
Anyway.
Then I read the list of things to NOT do.
I realized it.
Everything they said NOT to do had been done to me.
But they had been done by my siblings or because I had siblings.
- Ways Having Siblings Harmed My Self-Esteem
- My siblings called me names
Hurtful names like “chubby”. - They were quick to point out my faults
Apparently I have a big forehead and long neck. - They reminded me of mistakes I made and embarrassed me.
Yeah, remember that time when she… - They were always better than me.
My brother is some kind of freak genius kid.
He’s the could’ve-skipped-a-grade-read-the-encyclopedia-for-fun type of genius.
My sister could write phenomenal stories and poems.
She made friends easily – and lots of them. - And the list can go on and on.
Truth is, I love my siblings.
I loved being the youngest of three.
This “teasing” was just that – sibling teasing.
They may have picked on me but they also protected me.
You know the old “I can pick on my sister but no one else can” idea.
Ask the girl from high school who ended up with a smashed car window.
Mess with me and you get my crazy sister after you!
(Sis, I meant crazy in the nicest sense of the word)
So put down the books, don’t buy the magazines save the money from that class.
Instead, hug your kid, laugh at their jokes and go for a bike ride with them.
Parent them confidently and for the rest, do the best you can but don’t worry.
The minute Baby No. 2 popped out you doomed them both to teasing and feelings of inadequacy.
And parenting will never be the same!
Hawaii - 1982
Do I look like I have a big forehead and long neck?
(And what’s with my brother’s socks?!)
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
According to my kids, this book is true. You think all my kids were gonna grow and live in a cardboard box by the way they believe each and the crap they say.
My motto in my house is “Get Real, Pleeease!”
Also remember, the book was probably written by someone who:
A- Never Had Kids
B- Never Had Siblings
C- Lives in Another Country and is trying to make a buck off of American parents who are constantly paranoid and guilt-ridden that they are ruining their kids lives.
We probably are, but that doesn’t mean we love us any less or they us. And that’s where the self-esteem starts.
Carolyn’s last blog post..I Like To Be Tortured, and Occasionally Take My Family With Me
No you don’t look like you have a long neck and big forehead you were a very cute kid… As the youngest of 6 I was teased soo much but I love my siblings would not trade them for anything… I feel sorry for the only child. I am glad I was able to have two so they can be there for each other. Teasing and all.
I greatly enjoyed this post. =-)
.-= Jodee´s last blog ..Siblings…. =-.