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The People You're Stuck With

Family, siblings, conflict, empathy and getting along with the people closest to you.

Family relationships are some of the hardest ones kids navigate, precisely because they can't just walk away from them. Sibling conflict, feeling unheard at home, empathy for a family member who's having a hard time — these scenarios are about the people you didn't choose but are stuck with anyway, for life.

You'll find conversations about handling conflict with a sibling without it turning into a full-blown fight, what to do when you feel like the "forgotten" one in the family, seeing a family member's side of something even when you disagree, and what it means to actually make up after an argument at home, not just go quiet until it blows over.

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75 scenarios in this topic · more added regularly
The People You're Stuck With
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Showing 75 of 75 scenarios
01
The Chore That Always Falls to You
Somehow, the bins are always your job. Emptying the dishwasher is your job. When something needs carrying in from the car, your name is the one that gets…
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02
When Your Brother Got the Bigger Half
Your dad split the last slice of cake between you and your brother. You watched closely — and you're almost certain his piece was bigger. Not by much. But by…
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03
The Brother Who Copies Everything
Your little brother wants to be exactly like you. You start a hobby, he wants to do it too. You pick a favourite colour, suddenly it's his favourite. You get a…
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04
Theo and the Shared Bedroom
A boy called Theo shares a bedroom with his older brother. The room is small. There's a line down the middle that nobody drew but everyone respects — Theo's…
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05
When You Were Left in Charge
Your mum had to pop next door for twenty minutes and left you in charge of your younger sister. "Just keep an eye on her," she said. The moment the door…
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06
The Sister Who Always Tells
A girl called Priya has a younger sister who tells their parents everything. Every small thing Priya does — a snack before dinner, a phone used five minutes…
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07
When the Family Vote Didn't Go Your Way
Your family does a vote for the Saturday outing. You wanted the swimming pool. Everyone else wanted the long muddy walk you find boring. So it's the walk. Fair…
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08
The Cousin Who Breaks Your Things
Your cousin comes over a few times a year. You like seeing him — mostly. The problem is your stuff. Every visit, something ends up broken or lost: a model…
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09
When You Wouldn't Share the Screen
There's one tablet, and right now it's yours. You're deep in something good. Your younger sibling has been waiting, asking, hovering — "is it my turn yet?" —…
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10
The Grandparent Who Picks a Favourite
A boy called Daniel has noticed something at family gatherings. His grandad lights up for Daniel's cousin — asks about his football, slips him extra pocket…
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11
The Sibling Who's Better at Everything
Your older sister seems to be good at everything. Top marks. Picked for the team. Adults say "you must be so proud of her" — to you. At dinner, her news is…
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12
The War Over the Front Seat
Every single car journey, the same battle: who gets the front seat. You and your brother race to the door, call "shotgun," argue about who called it first, who…
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13
The New Boy at the Table
A girl called Hana has a new step-brother. Her mum married his dad, and now he lives in their house half the week. He's quiet, polite, and clearly…
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14
When Your Privacy Disappeared
You came home to find your younger sibling in your room, going through your things — reading the notebook where you write stuff you don't show anyone. They…
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15
When No One Noticed You Helped
You've been quietly helping all week. You cleared the table without being asked. You sorted the recycling. You kept your little brother entertained so your mum…
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16
The One Who Made Everyone Late
A boy called Marcus is always the reason his family is late. Every outing, everyone is at the door — shoes on, coats zipped — and they wait. And wait. Marcus…
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17
When You Took Your Sister's Side
Your sister did something she wasn't supposed to — nothing huge, but against the rules — and your dad is asking you, straight out, if you know anything about…
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18
The Quiet Cousin at the Gathering
At a big family party, a girl called Amara notices her cousin Joel standing at the edge of everything. He's younger, a bit awkward, and he doesn't really know…
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19
When You Were Talked Over Again
Your family is loud. At dinner, everyone talks at once — your older siblings, your parents, all big voices and fast opinions. You're the youngest. You start to…
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20
The Job You Did Badly on Purpose
You hate emptying the dishwasher, so today you did it... badly. On purpose. You shoved things in the wrong cupboards, left the cutlery jumbled, "forgot" half…
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21
The Words You Can't Take Back
You were arguing with your sister, and you were losing, so you reached for the cruellest thing you could find — and you said it. You knew exactly where it…
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22
When He Let His Brother Take the Blame
A boy called Elio broke the lamp. It was an accident — he was messing about where he shouldn't have been. When his mum came in and saw it, she immediately…
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23
The Boy Who Snapped at His Mum
A boy called Sam had a rotten day at school — something went wrong with his friends, the kind of thing that sits in your chest. He came home, and his mum, who…
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24
When He Was Ashamed of His Family
A friend came over to Halim's house for the first time. And suddenly he was seeing his family through their eyes — his dad's loud laugh, the weird food…
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25
The Secret You Promised to Keep
Your sister told you something private — a worry, a secret, something she trusted only you with. "Don't tell anyone," she said, and you promised. It felt good…
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26
When Jealousy Made Him Do It
A boy called Rory watched his sibling get something he really wanted — a present, a trip, a bit of news that made everyone fuss over them. The jealousy was…
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27
The Grandparent You Keep Putting Off
A girl called Leah has a grandma who calls every week. Grandma talks slowly, repeats her stories, asks the same questions, and the calls go on a bit. Lately,…
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28
The Lie That Grew
A boy called Jem did something he wasn't meant to, and when his mum asked about it, he panicked and lied. A small lie. It worked. But then she asked a…
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29
The Promise He Broke
A boy called Joss promised his little brother he'd play his game with him after dinner. His brother had been looking forward to it all day — he reminded…
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30
When You Mocked How He Does Things
A girl called Nadia has a younger brother whose brain works a bit differently. He lines his toys up just so, gets upset by loud noises, says the same favourite…
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31
The Girl Who Got Even
A girl called Beth felt her sister had wronged her — borrowed something without asking and lost it, no real apology. Beth stewed. And instead of saying…
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32
When He Wouldn't Say Sorry
A boy called Hollis and his dad had a row. Partway through, he realised he was actually in the wrong — he'd misjudged it, he'd been unfair. But by then he'd…
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33
When You Were Rude to a Relative
An aunt you don't see often came to visit. She asked you the usual grown-up questions — school, hobbies, "haven't you grown" — and you were... cold. One-word…
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34
When You Realised You Were the Problem
Your little sister flinched. You'd only reached past her to grab the remote, but she flinched, like she expected something bad. And it stopped you cold,…
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35
When You Don't Feel Like You Fit
Everyone in your family is loud and sporty and outdoorsy — and you're not. You'd rather read or draw. At family stuff, you're the one who'd rather not.…
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36
The Day You Saw Your Parent Was a Person
You caught your mum crying. Quietly, in the kitchen, when she thought no one could see — about something to do with work, or her own worries, something…
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37
The Boy With Two Homes
A boy called Reuben lives in two houses now — his mum's during the week, his dad's at weekends. His parents split up a while ago. Everyone says he's "doing…
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38
When You Liked One House Better
Your parents live apart, and — though you'd never say it out loud — you prefer one house to the other. One has your friends nearby, your stuff, the easier…
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39
The Sister Who Felt Invisible
A girl called Priya has a brother who takes up a lot of room. He's brilliant at sport, or always in some kind of trouble, or both — either way, he's the one…
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40
When Your Sibling Started Growing Away
You and your older sister used to do everything together. She was your built-in best friend. But lately she wants the door shut, the phone private, time with…
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41
The One Left Out of the Photo
A boy called Eli was looking at the framed photos on the wall at his nan's house. Lots of his cousins, his aunts, big family days out. And he noticed something…
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42
The Night It All Felt Right
It was nothing special — a power cut, actually. No screens, no plans. Your family ended up around candles, playing a daft card game, laughing at your dad's…
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43
The Cousin Who Had Less
A girl called Mei has a cousin whose family doesn't have much money. She noticed it slowly — the same worn shoes, the way her cousin goes quiet when holidays…
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44
When You Were Ashamed of Home
A friend offered to walk you home, and you said no, too fast. You made an excuse. The truth is you didn't want them to see your home — it's smaller, older,…
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45
The Family That Looked Different
A boy called Sami doesn't have the kind of family that shows up in school worksheets — the "draw your mum and dad" kind. His family looks different from most…
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46
When Your Brother Moved Out
Your big brother moved out — off to university, somewhere far. Everyone said it was exciting, a good thing, and it is. But the house is different now.…
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47
The Thing You Couldn't Tell Them
There's something going on with you — a worry, a struggle, something about who you are or what you're going through — and you haven't told your parents. Not…
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48
When You Saw What They Gave Up
You overheard your parents talking, late, about money — about going without something so you could have something. A trip you wanted. New boots. A club you'd…
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49
The Sibling Who Plays the Victim
A boy called Omar has a younger brother who's worked out a trick. Whenever they argue, his brother waits until a parent is nearby, then bursts into tears and…
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50
When Your Cousin Turned Them Against You
Your cousin is charming with the grown-ups and something else entirely with you. At the last family gathering, you noticed the other cousins had gone a bit…
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51
The Guilt Trip
Your sister has a way of getting what she wants. When you say no — to lending something, to giving up your turn, to doing her a favour — she doesn't argue. She…
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52
The Sister Who Only Wanted You When It Suited Her
A girl called Hana has an older sister she adores. The trouble is, her sister only seems to want her around when it's convenient — when she's bored, when her…
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53
The One Who's Only Nice to Grown-Ups
Your step-sibling is a completely different person depending on who's watching. With your parents around, they're sweet, helpful, charming — the perfect kid.…
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54
When He Used Your Secret
You told your brother something private once — a fear, an embarrassing thing, something tender. Now, whenever he wants to win an argument or get his way, he…
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55
The Cousin Who Competed for Grandma
A girl called Ava and her cousin both love their grandma — and somewhere along the way, loving her turned into competing for her. Who visits more. Who's the…
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56
When Being Good Was Used Against You
You're known as the responsible one. So when your sister wants to do something she shouldn't, she's figured out the perfect cover: she does it, and if anyone…
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57
The Cousin Who Dared You
At a family get-together, your older cousin pulled you aside with a grin. "Dare you," he said — to do something you weren't comfortable with. Climb the thing…
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58
When the Siblings Ganged Up
A boy called Jonah has two older siblings, and sometimes they team up. Today they've decided on a plan — sneaking out the snacks, blaming the mess on the dog,…
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59
The Older Cousins' Plan
A girl called Leila was thrilled when her much-older cousins said she could hang out with them at the family party — the big kids, the cool ones. Then it…
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60
When the Family Joke Went Too Far
A boy called Theo's family has a "thing" — they tease one relative, an aunt, about the way she is. Her voice, her habits, the way she frets. It's always been…
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61
The Brother Who Pushed You to Break the Rule
A girl called Anya has an older brother who's decided a rule is "stupid" — bedtime, screen limits, the off-limits cupboard, whatever it is — and he's broken…
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62
When a Grown-Up's Anger Scared You
A grown-up in your life — a parent, a relative, someone you know — lost their temper in a way that frightened you. Not at you, maybe, or maybe at you. The…
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63
The Hug That Didn't Feel Right
A girl called Maya has a relative who always wants a hug — and something about it makes her uncomfortable. She can't fully explain it. It just gives her…
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64
The Secret a Grown-Up Asked You to Keep
A grown-up you know asked you to keep a secret from your parents. Maybe it was wrapped up as something fun — "this'll be our little secret" — or maybe it came…
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65
The Grandad Who Was Slipping
A boy called Finn has started noticing things about his grandad. He repeats the same question minutes apart. He called Finn by his dad's name. Once he seemed…
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66
When the House Felt Tense
Something's wrong between your parents. They're not shouting — it's quieter than that. Short answers. A coldness. Doors closing for conversations you're not…
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67
The Adult Who Didn't Listen
A girl called Sofia tried to tell a grown-up something that mattered — a worry, a problem, something that was bothering her. And the grown-up brushed it off.…
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68
When He Needed Help But Didn't Ask
A boy called Daniel was struggling — schoolwork was getting on top of him. His family would have helped in a heartbeat. But he didn't ask. He told…
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69
The Family Friend Who Crossed a Line
There's a family friend — someone your parents know and trust, someone who's around a lot — who does something that makes you uncomfortable. Maybe they tease…
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70
When the Promise Got Forgotten
A girl called Priya's dad promised to come to her thing — the match, the show, the moment she'd been looking forward to for weeks. She told her friends he'd be…
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71
The One You Can Always Go To
There's one grown-up you can always go to. Maybe a parent, maybe a grandparent, an aunt, a teacher — someone who listens properly, who doesn't laugh at your…
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72
The Family Group Chat
Your family has a group chat — parents, siblings, aunts, cousins, the lot. Mostly it's fine. But today someone posted something that landed wrong: a photo of…
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73
What You Saw on Her Screen
A boy called Amir caught a glimpse of his older sister's phone — and what he saw worried him. Messages from someone, the kind that made his stomach tighten.…
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74
The Photo They Posted of You
A girl called Zoe found out her mum had been posting photos of her online for years — baby pictures, awkward stages, private little moments — to friends and…
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75
When the Screens Won
It's evening, and your whole family is in the same room — and completely apart. Your dad's scrolling. Your mum's answering work emails. Your sibling's deep in…
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Keep exploring the people you're stuck with

Sibling Fighting: How to Referee Less and Teach More
You can't make siblings get along on demand. You can turn the millionth squabble into a skill.
4 min read · Read article →
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