LEMUELBA

  CHILD FAVORITISM  Today, I want to talk about sibling rivalry due to child favoritism — those silent competitons within the home, fighting battles that often start unnoticed. We can never truly tell the extent to which favoring one child over another can go. Sometimes, the consequences are subtle. Other times, they’re deep, lasting, and unfortunately, deadly. The effects often don’t show immediately — they wait. They wait in the future. Let me give you a little insight into my own life. When my father was alive, I was his favorite — his briefcase, his shadow. Wherever he went, I was there. My elder sister, on the other hand, was my mother’s favorite. Then came education. My father set a condition: “Anyone who comes first in class gets a reward — a shopping trip and a full roasted chicken.” And guess what? I always won. This pulled me even closer to him. But over time, it made my sister resent me. As children, that resentment grew quietly. Today, as adults, that same resentme...

  Bad energy vibe. You know what I mean—some friends just vibe wrong. You don’t always see it at first, but you can feel it. Their presence doesn’t bring peace; it brings pressure. But what happens when the energy among friends becomes toxic? These are the kinds of friends who are always competing with you. If you buy land, they want to buy land—bigger, faster, louder. If you wear a nice shoe, they’ll ask, “Where did you get it? How much?” and by next week, they have it too—only flashier. But it’s not admiration. It’s not inspiration. It’s competition. Bad energy among friends isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s in the subtle eye rolls when you’re not looking, the fake support, the silence when you succeed, and the loudness when you fail. It’s in the competitive comments masked as jokes, the negative vibes, the constant judgment, and the feeling that you're not safe emotionally around the people you call “friends.” Remember, many have lost their lives this way. True friend...

"Negative Sibling Rivalry" Hi everyone! Today, I want us to talk about something that happens in many homes, but not everyone is ready to admit it—sibling rivalry. Now, sibling rivalry can be both positive and negative. But today, let’s focus on the negative side. So, what exactly is sibling rivalry? Sibling rivalry is the competition, jealousy, or conflict that can arise between siblings. It often stems from a desire for parental attention, recognition, or even resources like time, love, and support. And let’s be honest—parents play a big role in this. When a parent shows favoritism—whether intentionally or not—it can plant seeds of bitterness, resentment, and competition between children. And trust me, favoritism has serious consequences when it comes to raising healthy, emotionally balanced children. Now let’s look at the impact of negative sibling rivalry. It goes beyond just small quarrels. It can lead to real abuse— Physical abuse, like fighting. Verbal abuse, including...