Embarassed by praise from family

81% Normal
3 Comments

I love my family. Most kids my age talk about how much their parents do things to make them angry.I can hardly recall an occasion where my mom has made me mad (other than when I was really young and was upset over things like not getting ice cream). With that said, I get this odd feeling when I am told how proud of me they are. I do decent in school and I randomly paint pieces on my own time. I can't stand to show my parents, or really anyone else in my family because I don't want to be told that they are proud of me.

Also, I feel like I can't show my sister that I love her. She is 8 and always tells me how much she loves me, much like children often do. I can never bring myself to tell her that I love her back without sounding highly sarcastic. I'm also fairly mean to her. I know I love her, I just don't know how to show it without feeling extremely awkward. Is it normal to feel this way?

Voting Results
81% Normal
Based on 32 votes (26 yes)
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Comments ( 3 )
  • [Old Memory]
    14 years ago

    Yeah - you sound a little blocked there - they love you, your little sister too; yet you find it hard to acknowledge or reciprocate.

    As a teen you may feel you need to move beyond your family, and that perhaps these ties are holding you back. Who knows?

    But I think you also know you are lucky, and that maybe you could lighten up and just say "thanks" to your folks and "I love you too" to your sister.

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  • [Old Memory]
    13 years ago

    Me too man. I love my family ( have hated them a while back) but hate praise. Feels like Im mentally retarded getting praise for things no one else gets praised for.

    But that doesn't mean stop :)

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  • sansimage
    14 years ago

    A lot of people have this, not just with family but with everyone - not being able to take compliments. It shows low self-worth. It might be "normal" but it's not healthy.

    You need to learn how to receive love and accept compliments. You'l feel much better when you do.

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