Casting shadows.

I'm sorry you're having to deal with so much hassle with them, but I had to go through the same, just in different ways. You just gotta deal.

There's always a catch-22 with both the older and younger child. And it's even worse for a girl and boy. I was pressured to set high standards for you to follow, but they've come to learn it's not just the tangible standards. It's more than test scores and school activity. It's character, etiquette, integrity....You'll learn that's what it takes to be a stable human being. I know I never had to do what they're making you do, but I was pro-active at that age. I never waited for a "go out and..." line from them. I just did. And now they're expecting you to do the same.

Don't forget that the first child is also the experimental dummy. You now have more privileges compared to me. New car, more out time, no curfew. Their mistakes were one me, and they saw how I rebelled those few years, before the better years. Maybe that could have had a bearing on who I am today. I get phone calls frequently requesting advice on how to push you to where I am, but here's not much I can say. I went through this myself. Growing up and living your life has nothing to do with me.