1-upping and brotherly love - e-vice

Dear Bolton Carley,

Every time I go home for family holidays, I find that my little brother tries to one-up me.  I love my family and want my husband and kids to know them, but it drives me crazy that he always has to out-do me.  We got a new car before Easter and when we went home for 4^th of July, they had an even nicer one.  If we get my parents ipods, he shows up with a big screen TV.  It’s so frustrating.  What do I do?

Signed,

Out done

Dear Outdone,

First off, you may not always like them, but they’re still your family, and you have to love them!  Now, if it were me, I would take this as an opportunity to make your life better.  I’m thinking:  offer them a big family vacation to Lake of the Ozarks and maybe next year you’ll all be in the Hamptons on his dime!  Or if you’re going out to dinner, be sure to say he should drive since he has the new big fancy vehicle.  Take advantage of it, my friend! 

All kidding aside, is there a chance that he was the little brother who followed you around or looked up to you?  Perhaps he doesn’t even realize how it makes you feel, maybe he’s still just following his big sister’s lead, and that should be taken as sheer flattery.  Not only that, but I often say perspective is everything.  Would you rather have a brother that calls you asking for rent money or that lands himself in jail for a drug deal?  Suddenly, a little game of “anything you can do, I can do better” doesn’t seem so horrible.

Bottom line:  You can fix cars and dogs, but you just gotta love family.

-BC