Oh, gosh, there is so much here that would create complication in a relationship with a parent.

There is also a lot that reminds me of my growing-up years. I struggled with my weight as a child, and was introverted and kind of socially awkward. My younger sister was basically Hannah, except with better teeth. Thin, blond (not the social-pariah redhead that I was), extroverted, popular, athletic. While I was dieting from the age of 10 and dealing at times with aching loneliness and being reminded by my parents (especially my mother) to try to be more of all those things my sister naturally was, my sister was sailing through life with everything I or anyone else ever wanted.

Except that at least, she WAS truly family. She was the favorite child, most certainly (I have older half-siblings, and she was the favorite overall), but at least she was an original household member! Not someone who got shoe-horned into the house and family and then became the bane of my growing-up years while also being a usurper.

The issue of vacation and the threat of other people's food and eating out and all the rest of it... I feel your pain. I'm still going through that.

This was a thought-provoking, very honest entry, and you're very brave in sharing them with all of us.