Ask any younger sibling and they’ll ‘fess up to being competitive with their kin. I’m certainly guilty as charged when it comes to my older brother Michael – I can recall with startling clarity the exact moment he went from being my lovely big brother to competition that needed to be crushed and annihilated.
It was a Sunday afternoon, circa 1991. I was complaining to my mum Irene about my maths homework, which Michael always found easy. She lovingly told me that it didn’t matter that I wasn’t as good at maths as my brother, because I was good at sport.
I know she was trying to make me feel better, to show that each and every one of us has different areas in which we excel. But while she intended to build my confidence, when I caught her proud look at my brother and his ‘top set’ smile back, it made my ‘bottom set’ blood boil.
While I tried to feign ambivalence, it ignited a spark of competition – a ‘win at all costs’ attitude where I wouldn’t rest until I was my parents’ favourite. It took a year or two to topple him from the top spot and take his ‘favourite child’ mantle, and I’ve retained the title since. I’m successful and happy now but, growing up, Michael was the one that thrived while I sat awkwardly in his shadow. He was funny, smart, charismatic and popular. I was painfully shy, lanky and awkward.
Yes, I was good at sport but outside of that I struggled.
Esta historia es de la edición June 03, 2024 de WOMAN - UK.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición June 03, 2024 de WOMAN - UK.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Jamie's best BARBECUE - Jamie Oliver shares his fresh ideas for summer grilling
Whether you're veggie or a meat or fish lover, Jamie has you covered with his tasty new recipes, packed with flavour and designed to fire up the grill...
'There will be SPECIAL GUESTS'
Craig Revel Horwood on Strictly's 20th anniversary and why Simon Cowell may be switching judging for competing
Not quite MR DARCY
Clara was looking for a romantic hero and it certainly wasn't her ex
A weekend in...MARBELLA
Spain's glamorous Costa del Sol boasts 300 days of sunshine, making it popular all year round
Win a pet-friendly HOLIDAY
You can take your dog with you, thanks to Neutradol
How easy is it to take my dog on holiday?
The summer holidays are almost here, and many of us will be looking forward to getting away, either in the UK or further afield. As a pet owner, that raises the question of what to do with your pets.
My baby was treated like - SHE NEVER EXISTED
After losing her newborn daughter, Hilary Freeman was determined to make a positive difference
I almost divorced - MY DYING HUSBAND
Mauricee Bravo-Hibberd noticed a change in her husband's behaviour, but the cause turned out to be sinister
THINK yourself thin
Slimming could be as easy as channelling your mind
Sun, sea and SCAMS!
It's that time of year again when we all want to hop on a plane, sit on a beach in the sun with a refreshing drink in hand.