Jealousy

The Green-Eyed Monster- Jealousy!

If you ever heard of the green eyed monster you may have wondered what people were talking about - that monster is what we have used to describe jealousy. Jealousy makes up a big reason why siblings will argue with each other. Jealousy happens when you feel that someone else is better than you. It is common to feel bad when you compete with someone and they beat you. For example, if your brother or sister does better in school than you, you may feel angry and upset that they are better than you. You can feel proud and still feel jealous of them as well. It is important for you as a sibling to remember that you don't need to compete with your sibling all the time. You should still receive the attention that you want from your parent, no matter what. If you feel like you are being left out or ignored by your parent - you should talk to them.

Don't Lose Your Cool!

Sometimes when you're jealous and frustrated, it's easy to lose your temper. Try to follow these tips to avoid getting into a fight with your brother or sister:

* Take a deep breath and think about the situation. Are you overreacting? Are you really just upset with yourself because you didn't win that award or get that grade?

* Remind yourself that you have talents that your siblings don't. Your sister may have had her painting hung up in the classroom, but you're better at basketball, or math, or singing (or maybe all three!). Eight-year-old Marisa says her brother "always wins running races, but I always get gold stars for good homework grades and that makes me feel better."

* Try to congratulate your siblings on their achievements and share their happiness. If you do this for them, they'll be more likely to do it for you the next time you have some good things happen.

However, if you find that you and your sibling are fighting too much - you should talk to your parent(s) about getting some help.