This will probably sound pathetic, but after lying in bed awake upset about this once again, I thought I'd put it down here.
I have a much older sibling who has been jealous of me since I was born. Understandable, maybe, but it's got worse over the last 40 years, not better, and out mother (only living oarent) has pandered to this for the last 20.
It occurred to me in the middle of the night that I can never have a birthday party with my family there, let alone anything like a wedding. I was thinking about my 40th next year, and how nice it would be (Covid allowing) to have a wee get together with the friends who still live near my mother. But then I realised it wouldn't be my birthday party, it would end up being my sister's party that just happened to take place near my birthday. She can't bear for me to be the centre of attention and would take the party over and dominate, leaving me feeling miserable in the corner. If I'd tried that at her 40th (10 years ago) I'd have been slaughtered. Yet i'd be expected to suck it up and not complain, as saying anything to her would upset her, and saying anything to my mother would upset her. The fact that this would upset me just gets ignored.
(Despite having graduated twice, and married, before I graduated once she threw two tantrums at my graduation as she wasn't in the centre of the family photograph (because I was) and she hadn't chosen the restaurant we ate at.)
Am I allowed to be sad about this or should I just accept that this is what she's like which is what my mother expects me to do?