I am very worried about my 9 year old dd2 (middle of 3 girls). She has always been an emotional child but she seems v unhappy. Although she is extremely bright academically, she struggles to find activities that she feels she's good at and enjoys doing. She's not sporty at all, although I do try to encourage it, and is quite un-coordinated so finds lots of physical activities difficult.
The problem is she compares herself to her older sister who, although not as bright, is more of an all-rounder. They both do ballet but dd1 is very good it and spends much of the week doing classes so it's really her thing. I think dd2 wants to have a 'thing' that hers only. She tried piano for a bit and gave it up, she's been learning recorder at school and now is fed up with that. She does do drama which she enjoys but that brings it own problems. For example, she was keen to audition recently for a local amateur production of the Sound of Music. She didn't get a part which resulted in lots of self-pity - 'I knew I wouldn't get a part, I was rubbish, I'm rubbish at everything, sometimes I wish I'd never been born' etc I know she can be overly dramatic but I do worry that she's so hard on herself.
I always tell her how much we all love her and often point out her wonderful qualities but it doesn't seem to be enough for her.