How to Deal with Having a Perfect Sibling

Every family has a favorite child. Sometimes, you're not lucky enough to be it. What do you do when your brother or sister seems perfect in every way, and you're always stuck being the "bad" one? Well, you'll probably never achieve perfect, but you can wildly reinvent yourself so at least you're unique to your family. Here are some suggestions.

Move far, far away.

Deal with a perfect sibling by becoming that mysterious family member who shows up at Christmas with exotic gifts from far away places. If you grew up in the country, reinvent yourself as a city person. If you've got a taste for adventure, sign up to teach English in China or rent a cheap flat in India for a year. Imagine how happy your family will be to see you when your presence becomes a special occasion. Simply showing up at a family gathering when you've been living far away can divert your family's attention from your perfect sibling to you.

Seriously, though, a lot of family tension comes from proximity. Sometimes moving away can help your parents appreciate you more as your own person instead of dwelling on how you compare to your perfect sibling. You might not be the perfect one, but instead of being the bad one, you'll become the adventurous or worldly one.

Rebel with a cause.

When you have a perfect sibling, it's all too tempting to define yourself by your rebelliousness. Channel that anger into a productive path, and your parents might define you as the noble one instead of the wild child.

If you've got a natural flair for making trouble, join the anti-globalization movement, chain yourself to a tree, or just show up anywhere the police will be sure to bring tear gas. Before you know it, brick hurling and tantrum throwing will become your most valuable assets to whatever cause is lucky enough to have you.

Make God love you more.

If you're constantly feeling blamed for things, you may find your salvation in religion. Deal with a perfect sibling by redefining what perfect means in your family. After all, can anyone find fault with a nun or a monk?

Taking the religious road means that you'll be setting the standard for behavior in your family. Instead of wondering what your perfect sibling would do in a sticky situation, they'll come to you for moral guidance. And even if you can never win your parents' approval, at least you'll have God on your team.

Disclaimer: I went through a phase when I was a kid when I wanted to kill my sister for always being the good one. But now that I'm older, I love my sister, and I love that we're different. I think we've managed to become friends because we appreciate the other's unique qualities.

Oh, and you probably shouldn't actually try these suggestions in real life unless they're things you've always wanted to try anyway.