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Dear Jellybean,
My brother has the spotlight. He: plays soccer, baseball, football, basketball, and tennis; he played viola and now trombone; he plays chess; he is getting very good grades; he is considered "a jock" and very popular; he's sensitive; and he's been asked more than once to be an Abercrombie model. Let's just say he's pretty close to perfect. Then there's me. I'm smart, 4.0, and...uh. I'll just say that I'm not popular (not saying I want to be popular...I'm fine with one close friend) or good at sports or good at any instruments. Whenever I do something good (get a good grade on a test) it's not acknowledged by my parents, and my friends yell at me for being a nerd. Oh and I forgot...my brother's 9. I'm being overpowered by my 9 year old brother. I know he doesn't try to make me feel bad about myself. But like when i was practicing my overhand serve for volleyball in my backyard, he came outside and asked if he could try. I taught him how to do it, and his first try went over the fence. To this day, I still can't serve over the net. My friends tell me that I'll find my little notch if you will. But it's hard living with a perfect brother. I mostly live my life trying to get out of the house, not wanting to deal with my parents and brother. It makes me feel like I'm nothing.
Dear Writer,
You are not nothing. And if it makes you feel any better, lots of people peak before they hit high school. Your brother may be all that now, but in a few years, who knows how he'll be doing. (Hopefully well, for his sake, but it's early to tell, right?)
Anyway, there is no use comparing yourself to your brother. I think you're fighting a losing game, and you're putting up fences between you and your family members, which is really sad. I guarantee you that your parents love you, and are proud of you, but you are so sensitive to the brother issue that you're making it hard for you to feel it, and maybe for them to show it.
Sit down with your parents and talk to them about this, when they have some uninterrupted time. It's likely they have no idea you're feeling overshadowed by your brother, because they probably value and love you for completely different reasons. Share your feelings, and listen to them when they tell you theirs. Hopefully when they realize you feel overlooked, they will work harder at making you feel just the opposite. I think you can be way happier in your house, and in yourself, and it all starts with some basic communication of your feelings.
