‘I'm tired of being disrespected’: Golden child calls sister the ‘family failure,’ sister refuses to attend family vacation when parents take golden child's side

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Feb 9, 2025 2:00 PM EST

Growing up with siblings has the potential to make an individual's childhood enjoyable, accompanied, or dreadful. Of course, there's a gray in-between area of two opposite sides along this spectrum, but we love extremes here at Cheezburger.

You're likely well-acquainted with the concept of the 'golden child'—this child is their parents' prized possession and often steals the spotlight (or any attention, really) from their other sibling(s). Sometimes the golden child is unaware that they are the cherry on top of the familial cake, but others know exactly their place on their parents' child hierarchy and aren't afraid to act out because they know they can without repercussion.

The bronze child in this story refuses to attend a family vacation after her golden child sister labels her the "family failure" at the family dinner. In true golden child fashion, their parents are excusing this ill-mannered behavior and are upset with the bronze child's decision to skip out on family vacation… The golden child might only be gilded!

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  • Cheezburger Image 10463702272
    via Getty Images

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • "AITA for refusing to go on a family trip after my sister called me 'the family failure'?"

    So, I (25F) have always had a bit of a rocky relationship with my older sister (27F). She's always. been the "golden child" in
    via TahliaTryst
  • our family-straight A's, great job, married with kids, you get the idea. Meanwhile, I took a different path. I struggled through college, jumped
    via TahliaTryst
  • between jobs, and I'm currently working a retail job while trying to figure out my career. Not perfect, but I'm doing my best.
    via TahliaTryst

  • No child should be pitted against one of their siblings. Everyone excels, learns, and grows at different times… deciding a child is better than another is objectively bad parenting. It's not like the woman who posted this story made life exceptionally difficult for her family, she only looked “bad” relative to her sister (and even then, this way of parental thinking is slightly abhorrent.) Straight-A's mean nothing if you lack good character, which you'll soon bear witness to.

  • Last week, we had a family dinner where my parents announced they wanted to take the whole family on a vacation to celebrate their
    via TahliaTryst
  • anniversary. It sounded. nice until my sister started joking about how she hopes I can actually afford to take time off.
    via TahliaTryst
  • She then followed it up by saying, "It's okay, we all know you're the family failure, but at least you're fun to have around."
    via TahliaTryst
  • Cheezburger Image 10463702784
    via Michael Tucker

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Everyone laughed. I awkwardly smiled, but inside, I was done. This isn't the first time she's made comments like that,
    via TahliaTryst
  • but it hit differently this time. After the dinner, I told my parents I wasn't comfortable going on the trip. They tried to brush it off as my sister "just joking," but I told them I'm tired of being disrespected.
    via TahliaTryst
  • Now my whole family is upset with me. My sister texted me saying I'm being "dramatic" and that I'm ruining the trip for everyone. My parents
    via TahliaTryst
  • said they understand I'm hurt, but I should come and "not let her get to me." I really don't want to go, but now I feel guilty for upsetting everyone. AITA for saying no to the trip?
    via TahliaTryst
  • Hidden_Vixen21 Anybody who doubles down after learning you got upset about a joke is not a good person. They lack empathy and think their pride is more important than your pain
    via Hidden_Vixen21
  • Emotional_Flow2... Dont go. At least untill your sister apologizes.
    via Emotional_Flow2521
  • cutexgianna NTA. Your sister crossed a line, and you don't owe it to anyone to put yourself in a situation where you're disrespected. It's totally okay to take a step back for your mental health.
    via cutexgianna
  • lovexxpurple NTA, setting boundaries against disrespect is crucial.
    via lovexxpurple
  • writing_mm_rom... Nope, jokes should never have an unwitting participant as the punch. That makes them not jokes, it makes it bu ying.
    via writing_mm_romance
  • Rafflesia Arnoldii NTA They ALL laughed at you. It's probably not hard to think of better uses for your time than being around people who look down on you.
    via RafflesiaArnoldii
  • PapayaOk4725 If your presence is only valued when you're the punchline, then it's not a healthy environment. You're not ruining the trip-your sister's behavior is.
    via PapayaOk4725

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