Rant! My parents DONT CARE!

[JuniorxMyxLove]

I posted my pictures here (http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=125492). So I'm spending all my time doing these drawings. My parents don't even look at them. They see my sister drawing flowers and they're running over to her, drooling. And the flowers are good, but thats ALL SHE EVER DOES! I do only horses, but all sorts of different poses! She does the same page of flowers over and over and over. And they've framed one she colored and taken in to my grandmas house and shown it off and told everyone about it. Our whole kitchen is covered in her photos, her drawings. Me? Nothing. Nothing but a thing I did in 3rd grade hung at the bottom of the stairs leading to the basement. Nice and in view, eh? I don't want to bug them about it...but I do show them my drawings sometimes. They glance at it, say "That's nice, honey" and go drool over Jill some more. ITS DISGUSTING! I deliberately put my stuff out to where they'll see it, hoping for some sort of praise, and you know what happens? MY SISTER LEAVES HER NASTY SPIT COVERED RETAINER ON IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I tell my parents, you know what they say? "It was just a drawing. you can always make another one. It's all you ever do, anyways" without even talking to Jill about it. The worst part is that if I did that, my dad would probably ground me! They keep - and frame - EVERYTHING she does! Even this horrible painting of-you guessed it-a flower! And NONE of my stuff! Not even the pieces I spent so much time on. I just want a 'That's nice' or 'I really like that' or even just a 'wow!'. Is that too much to ask?!?!?!?! Why is her stuff suddenly soo much better and soo much more important then mine? Sometimes I feel like screaming its soooo discouraging. Why draw if its not even worthy of my parents approval?!

Oh, and btw, my sisters turning 15 this year so its not like her little kid drawings.

-Melanie

PS- tomorrow morning I'll take a picture of the picture so you can see. And I've tried being nice and suggesting stuff. My dad said,"Mel stop distracting her!" I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH I HATE MY PARENTS WHEN IT COMES TO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Alysser]

First off, your pictures are really good. I really like the last one. Secondly, I understand how you feel. I feel the same way. To my sister, I seem like a social outcast and I am so nice to her, yet I am treated like crap in return. When I was talking first, I get yelled at if my sister starts talking afterwards. I hate it, and I just wind up storming to my room. I am not going to act like her though. I suggest you talk to your parents, but that is just me. Maybe I should take my own advice, because sooner or later I'm going to loose my cool about my situation too.

[JuniorxMyxLove]

Thanks :]

I know I shouldn't be jealous and everything...but GEEZ! My sister can be like that too. No matter what happens, they take her side. Like today, I was telling my mom something in the car. My sister told me, "OH MY GOD! You're so freakin annoying!" and I said, "Shut up please!" (yes I did say please...sarcastically but i said it) so my mom says "Shut it Mel! Just drop it!" I HATE IT!

Yea. I should talk to them...but then they'll just make it a big joke. Thats what happened when I talked to my dad about always teasing me and stuff. He makes it a big joke. Like he starts to tease me, then says "Oh, I forgot I'm not allowed to. " and then "Aww come on, Mel! Lighten up! It was just a joke!" when I stop talking, smiling, and won't look at him or Jill.

So basically, I'm afraid to talk to them.

-Melanie

PS- Hopefully you can talk to your parents and they'll listen and take it more
seriously then mine.

Oh, and did I mention that I found the last one-the one you liked so much- in the garbage? They threw it away!

[Alysser]

Start off the conversation by saying "Look mom, dad, you guys always twist my words into a big joke, but I am completely serious. Can you....blah...blah?". Approach it casually, and just don't loose your temper. THAT will tick them off. Trust me, it works lol.

[crow_noir]

* HUG *

[I_luv_rusty]

Aww! Your drawing are AMAZING!! Your before one was way better than any horse drawing I can do. I love the one with the quote from "Dreamer", that drawing of the person on the horse is really nice. I don't have much advice, but your drawing are beautiful don't let your parents make you think otherwise. Try to tell your parents and be like don't make a joke about it or i'll be more upset with you guys. Say something like "I put all my time into this drawing and everyone thinks their beautiful. My (from you saying it) sister shouldn't get away with ruining my work, or having it thrown in the garbage. Imagine if I threw something you worked hard on in the garbage that you loved. You can't just make the same exact thing just the same as the last one." I hope they start to pay attention to your work too. :) ((hugs))

[Catty1]

Maybe they are all jealous of your talent, and don't want your sister to feel she draws worse than you - so they give her all the attention!

I had (still have) a lot of musical talent, and my parents didn't know what to do with it. Maybe your folks are in the same position.

I hope you find an art summer camp or something you can go to! Something that you would love to do. Then YOU are taking a direction for yourself.

{{{{hugs}}}}

[Daisy and Delilah]

I looked at your pictures and I think they're great. You said you're trying to learn new techniques. Why not post a thread and ask for help from some of our resident experts. We have some professionals on this board. The talent on this board always amazes me. In no time, you can get some suggestions and be doing pro work too.

I'm sorry you're having this problem. I always felt like my sister was getting more attention from everybody too. The more you excel, the more people will love your work and the more attention you'll get. Good luck with your drawing. It's awesome that you love artwork.

[Karen]

Stop seeing it as a competition with your sister. Drawing is something you should do for you and your own enjoyment, not for your parents' approval, or to compete with your sister. Just work on what you want to work on - some day soon you'll be an adult, and learning not to rely on others for approval is an important step in that process.

We are each individuals, with our own gifts, talents and skills. And giving birth doesn;t automatically endow the parents with all the skills needed to be good at the job. Wait until you are calm, and, in fact, write down what you'd want to say to your parents, if you feel the need to discuss it. And if they rebuff you, just remember, you drawings are for you, and for your own improvement - they don't even need to see them.

I am sure your parents DO care about you - just maybe not in the way you expect them to. That doesn't mean they don't care.

[Chilli]

I can relate. =]
My sister is around..maybe 4 years older than me, and over the years, I had frequently felt like she had got more attention and more things from my parents.
As we both got a bit older, I realized that my parents didn't really love her more, she just excelled in certain things and my talents were kind of overlooked.

I agree with what the others said, Draw because YOU like it, and keep working at it until you are able to blow your parents away with your talent. You already have talent, and with a bit of practice, you could become an excellent artist. Maybe enroll in some art classes at school? Or even look up some drawing tutorials on the internet to help out with some details.

Maybe to help yourself feel more appreciated, once you feel like you've done a really great peice of art, frame it yourself! Find a place in the house and display it. When I thought I did a nice job on drawing something, I'd always find a nice frame and set it all up on my parents' dresser so they'd find it.

And never forget, your parents always love and care about you. =]

[JuniorxMyxLove]

I know it shouldn't be a competition...it's just really annoying.

I'm (hopefully) taking art next year as one of my electives, and this summer I want my mom to let me take this art class. I took one (they're held by the same place, just different things) and the teacher was a very good artist, but she got mad at me for only wanting to do horses. I don't try anything else because they end up looking like horses anyways. :]

I'm not going to stop...I guess I'll just keep them in my notebook. Where no one will see them. And I can get those stinking hooves to stop looking demented.

-Melanie

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Ahh sibling rivalry......I remember helping out all the time when I was at home yet when my twin brother lifted a tea towel everyone had to know about it :D

Enjoy your talent and please keep sharing your drawings with us

[Queen of Poop]

I don't want to be a downer, but perhaps I can add a different perspective. I was 4 years older than my sister. I felt she got all the attention, was so much more special than me, etc., etc. Then, she died at 16. That was 21 years ago. I would gladly go back and put up with all that crap again if only she was still alive.

[Pawsitive Thinking]

I don't want to be a downer, but perhaps I can add a different perspective. I was 4 years older than my sister. I felt she got all the attention, was so much more special than me, etc., etc. Then, she died at 16. That was 21 years ago. I would gladly go back and put up with all that crap again if only she was still alive.


{{{hugs}}} time to count our blessings I think. My brother drives me up the wall but I couldn't imagine being without the daft lump

[Laura's Babies]

You are WHO you are and you DO have a talent, maybe it is not as good as your sisters, maybe it it is actually better than your sisters. You are unique in your own right, there is no one else like you. Be happy with WHO you are and what you can do. Like the Army ads say "Be all you can be" and forget the small stuff.

She may be one that need a lot of encouragement to keep on and do better while you have always excelled on your own... I can promise you, your parents do not love her more than you, as a parent who raised 4, I know we love each child equally, it is just that some require more attention than others. My oldest son could entertain himself, didn't need watching or "mothering". My middle son required a LOT of attention, constant encouragement and demanded a lot of my time. My daughter required little of my attention and she had to be handled with a very gentle touch as her feelings were easily hurt. My youngest was the most demanding child I ever saw. He was not a bad kid, just wanted all the attention and was quick to cry to get it. He also use to do the cutiest thing to get attention.

So think about that... Is she one that NEEDS constant encouragement and you are more independant and do better when left alone? Go away from this with this; Love your sister for WHO she is and love yourself for WHO you are.