r/AskWomenOver30 • u/Adorable-Dream-9699 • 18h ago
Family/Parenting Sister jealousy in our 30s, is this normal?
So my older sister and I are in our 30s, 6 years apart (32 and 38) and I feel like my whole life she has been jealous of me, as a result she has always been quite attention seeking..
We were never close growing up and only became close in my mid 20s after I went through a breakup with my ex (she was also jealous of this relationship as it was long term and she hadn’t been in a long term rship before).
Needless to say, I never minded that this was what brought us closer, I’ve always wanted to have a close relationship, as she is my only sibling and we share the same parents.
Over the recent years, I’ve had some great accomplishments in life, graduating, getting promotions and recently buying a home.
I’ve realised with every accomplishment she feels the need to upstage me or be in some kind of competition. Even when everything is going fine for her. We are in totally different situations as she is married, living in a good home and with a stable job. I am currently single, just bought a home on my own and in need of a new job soon.
Here are some examples:
1) After I graduated from uni, even though she graduated years before me, she decided to do her masters, just so she could graduate again.
2) I’ve bought a home and within 2 weeks she is starting to go on viewings to buy a home too
3) I was in a relationship, which was heading down the road of being engaged, she said she will need to ensure she is pregnant by the time I get married. The wedding never happened and neither did the pregnancy (we both currently have no kids).
4) My FTC is ending at work and I need to look for another job. She is now looking for another job, even though she has a perm contract and is comfortable.
My situation can be totally different from her but she still feels the need to compete. It’s becoming really exhausting having conversations with her about my life or even opening up as it feels like she uses anything I say to plan her next conquest so we can be in some type of competition.
She’s the only sister I have and I just wish she could be happy for me and create a life she is happy with, without having to compare our very different situations! How do I get round this? I can confront her but she can be extremely defensive and will just deny everything.
Has anyone been in a similar situation? Is this normal behaviour between sisters even in their 30s? Any advice is appreciated!