It could also be perspective too.. I have a sister that is 4 years older than me. By the time she got to secondary school she was really bad! Bunking 24/7, got in with the wrong crowd, robbing shops, joined “crews”, had multiple school fights, my mum had the option of paying a fine or doing some time for my sister not going to school, she ran away from home a few times, was bought home by the police multiple times, had friends stay at our house without consent for months (sometimes years) and lastly she ran away from home and got pregnant and stayed with her friends family who doted on her during pregnancy! My mum went on like nothing was wrong!
Now me… when i got to secondary school i excelled the first year and then after a family holiday my mum chose to go on, i became chronically sick forever. My schooling suffered BIG time, i lost my friends, my self esteem, became depressed and suicidal, went from being outgoing and fun to introverted and never wanted to leave my bedroom. I spent most my teenage/school life in Hospital and because i was such a black sheep of the family, most of that time in the children's ward i was alone without visitor’s especially my immediate family.
My mother would tell people how great her older (first) daughter was, as if butter couldnt melt, would do anything for her and regardless of what she did wrong, she could always find a way to look past it. For me though, that was not the case, i was not to be spoken about, i was a child not worthy of giving any praise or help, she would rather cast me put like a bad mistake than admit any faults of her own. Now i have completely cut her out of my life.. she kicked me out at 16 because i was sick and “SHE” couldnt take it anymore… she done everything she could to get me out of her life before then too but its safe to say… To the outside world, my sister was such a good child/teen according to my mum.. Many dont know i exist unless they had met me when I was around.
I know for SURE if i had done even one of the listed things my sister did growing up i would never get treated the same way she did! I also know sometimes when others would mention how she praised my sister but their child wasnt so easy, she would make up a load of crap, state it was down to her parenting blah blah.. Honestly take what some people say with a pinch of salt because its not always the truth and sometimes the ones that isnt acknowledged is the not so troublesome ones.
Every child had their times but its not true to say they are golden 100% of the time and above everyone else, as we all have our own personal struggles to add on top.