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Alrighty, buckle up! Today we're taking a wild ride through stories about the so-called "golden children" of families - those kids who were supposed to have it all but, spoiler alert, life threw some curveballs at them. Let's dive right into these tales that show sometimes being the "favorite" isn’t all glitter and sunshine.
Oh, and these juicy stories come straight from real people. So, grab some popcorn (or not) and enjoy!
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I was the golden child until I started calling out my mom’s nonsense. Then life got messy. I spiraled into being burnt out, dealing with mental illness, and couldn't even trust myself with pills. My 20s were wild; my 30s got alcoholic. At 35, I had a major breakdown and tried to give up. But hey, I pulled through eventually. Messy journey, but some progress!
My older and younger sisters? Both golden children and yeah, they're pretty miserable - alone, mostly dependent on dad, and friendless. Meanwhile? Me, the scapegoat, happily married for 35 years with a loving family. I got cut out of the will for going no contact but hey, I’m living my best life.
We’re twins. She obsessed over being better than me in high school. Then mental health hit, she bounced to Chile, came back as a hardcore Christian who’s super holier-than-thou. Tried teaching 3rd grade, ditched it for becoming a preacher who chats with God in dreams and sees witches everywhere. Social life? Nonexistent. She blames me and our parents for her mess, even though I was the scapegoat she bullied. Me? I’m thriving and staying far away.
So, mental health is kind of a big deal. The World Health Organization says over a billion people are juggling different mental health issues lately. That's a LOT of people, right? But mental health isn’t just a 'yes or no' thing. There are tons of different disorders - from the common stuff like anxiety and depression to the rare and quirky ones that most people barely know about.
My brother? Golden child for sure. Parents supported him big time, even while he wouldn’t stand up to them like I did. They trapped him as their caretaker since he was a kid. He’s a successful engineer, but no relationships. Mom’s basically his 'boyfriend.' It's kinda creepy.
Yeah, I was the golden child and man, that title burned. Siblings hated me, but so did I, ‘cause I was only loved when it made the family look good. Felt like I had to be perfect to be worthy. Now? I’m ditching that and choosing me - sorry, life! It’s rough, but knowing why I’ve been sad forever is kinda the first happiness I’ve ever had. Gonna run with it.
Never learned about consequences, so he spent his late teens and 20s knocking up girls, then leaving. Jobs? Nope, never stuck with one. Has a kid with autism he basically ditched - classic 'Junior' abandoned by absentee dad. I’m autistic too, and the way he tossed his kid aside? Super wrong. Haven’t seen the guy in ages; hope his kid’s got better support now.
Take narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), for example. It’s not super common - only about 5% of Americans have it. But it sure knows how to shake things up. People with NPD often think they deserve special treatment, and when they don’t get it, things can get messy - with themselves and everyone around them.
One sister married young, had kids, then divorced the 'garbage husband.' She’s back living with parents but rocking college now. Another has mental health struggles, can’t keep a job, and threatens self-harm if called out. Mom messed up all her kids, just in different ways. I got lucky and escaped the mess mostly intact.
Still mooching off parents, living the golden sponge life. Funny how the precious golden kid couldn’t give them what they wanted most - grandkids. Now, asking to see their grandkids must taste like poison to them. Lucky me, my kids decide when grandma visits. Drama much?
That’s me - the golden child. But when my relationship with my wife got serious, Mom’s behavior went downhill and I didn’t handle it well. Fast forward, we went no contact (hello, almost four years), and I’m happier than ever choosing my wife over toxic family drama. No regrets, just peace.
Now, imagine someone with NPD deciding to become a parent. Yikes, right? Sometimes that leads to the so-called Golden Child syndrome, where one kid gets all the love, praise, and attention (and the others get... well, less fun stuff). Scientists are still poking around to figure out exactly how common this is, but plenty of folks have noticed the pattern.
My brother got the golden kid treatment, but his life? Total train wreck. Cheated on his wife, another divorce, mom bails him out financially. One of his kids went no contact years ago. I’ve been outta the family for 19 years. Best decision ever.
My sister and I swapped golden child and scapegoat roles so much growing up, it was dizzying. Mom favored my sister more, treating her like a baby forever. I was scared she'd turn out terrible from all that spoiling, but thankfully she grew up and saw our crazy narc parents for what they are. We’re in this together now.
He dropped out of high school, daded multiple women, and tried to mooch off me. We kicked him out after getting tired of his whiskey-fueled chaos. Now he’s supposedly living in a tent working as a hunting guide? No thank you from me.
Golden Child syndrome basically means one kid gets treated like royalty. They get showered with praise (maybe too much), which can make them act a little full of themselves. Long story short: it can be tough for these kids to figure out how to be regular, functioning adults.
So here's a sneak peek at how these golden children end up. Some stay golden, some... not so much.
Golden child dropped out, got married and divorced, and now hosts at a BBQ joint. Me? The scapegoat, I snagged a PhD and married a great guy. Mom calls me a failure and is super jealous of the golden kid. Go figure.
He’s 42, lives in a duplex bought by the parents, doesn’t pay rent, and is mostly a blackout alcoholic. Relationships? Nope. He has a factory job (thank goodness), but spends like there’s no tomorrow. What happens when mom and dad pass? Not my problem!
She became a listless mess in high school, dropped out of a dumb acting course, and bounced back home. I went no contact with her before cutting off our parents. I think she’s just waiting for them to kick the bucket so she can inherit the house and rent it out. Sexy, right?
These stories come from people sharing their real, messy experiences. Whether it’s about themselves or someone they know, they give us a front-row seat to see how tricky family favoritism can really be.
Got your own golden child tales? Drop ‘em in the comments!
She’s doing fine but has some narcissistic quirks. I’m no contact with her, and she and our parents are happily living how they want. Just so you know, they’re even paying for her house remodel so they can move in when they’re old. Fun times!
My GC brother paid for his golden status with his life. When he got a terrible fever, the narcissists in the family cared more about arguing with doctors than saving him. It led to bad decisions and his death. The family milks this for sympathy like pros.
Brother was deemed a genius but didn’t finish college after seven years. He worked some odd jobs, including at an adult shop, and now works at a law firm owned by his wife’s dad - not as a lawyer. Meanwhile, my sister (the scapegoat) is the first in the family with a math degree and doing well. We both deal with mental health, but her and I manage. He? Mystery, haven’t talked to him.
My younger brother? Still crashing at mom’s, unemployed, playing video games. He had a paper route that was basically mom’s show - the planning, folding, driving, all done by her. Now he’s almost 50, no credit, no job, and could be homeless once mom’s gone. He lost the one girl who actually liked him, so no wedding or grandkids for mom’s dream. Bye, Boo-boo.
Got into some bad stuff, got out, now living with parents and making life hell. I’m out and no contact. No regrets.
My younger brother’s the golden child, in the laziest sense. Grandmother loved him best (only grandson), mom smothered him so bad he’s never had a girlfriend or even the courage to do anything our mom would disapprove of. Panic attacks just thinking for himself. Yikes.
Golden Child doesn’t always mean useless brat. My golden aunt is a doctor with paid med school and fancy international training. Meanwhile, scapegoat mom got pushed into a useless degree and relied on her dad till he died. Of course, she got called useless, but who else was gonna get stuck asking for help?
Oldest brother and sister were golden kids. Both their sons? Prison regulars. Life’s funny like that.
She’s got borderline personality disorder, does nothing around the house, no kids, and leeches off burnt-out boyfriends who provide for her. Classy.
I was ditched when I stopped making enough money my parents could drain. Now they’re all about my brother, hoping for grandkids. Guess who missed the kid train while trying to please them? Yours truly.
My brother, the golden child, did exactly what they wanted - college, job, wife, kid. But mom still complains he’s not enough. She even bugged his wife about spending more time with her! He never stands up to mom and won’t say a bad word. Wife’s scared of her too. Talk about golden child prison!
I might’ve seemed like the golden child because I made Mom look good, but I went low contact once I left for college on a full ride. My sister and step-sister? Scapegoats with rehab visits and no jobs. Education and work was my escape.
My mom was the baby golden child who got everything she wanted. Now my sisters are being raised the same way. The youngest curses and gets her way; the middle one eats only select foods because dad always catered to her. Mom's basically their buddy and encourages this behavior. Real eye-opener for me!
Family order: Me (scapegoat), sister (golden child), sister (scapegoat). The golden child’s on her second marriage, married to an alcoholic, is an alcoholic herself, and hated by her stepdaughters. The whole family’s gone no contact with her, and she’s even cut off dad who’s dying and craving a relationship with her. Drama, much?
I was the golden child growing up, but I moved away and got critical of my family. Now, the golden spotlight’s on my sister who’s the obedient one, and I’m the scapegoat. Mental health struggles? They use that to blame me. Ironically, I’m the healthiest, and they’re the ones falling apart.
Golden child’s lived through two marriages, has three kids, moved to a red state, and turned into a gun enthusiast. Still the golden one in the family story.
She’s a full-on narcissist with no real friends and a serial monogamist - can’t stand being alone. Terrible mom too; her kid’s probably got some serious PTSD brewing.
Golden child in my spouse’s fam? Let’s just say the county jail has a bunk waiting. Yeah, it’s bad.
I am the golden child - successful job, lovely family, cut toxic parents completely. Therapy and my awesome husband saved me. That’s the secret sauce.
My brother’s the golden child, but he treats family like a business deal. Plays nice with the parents, married to a narcissist, who’s totally vile. No kids yet, and I’m hoping it stays that way. But financially? Dude’s doing well.
Uncle was the golden child who stole the family company to take care of Mom after Dad died from cancer. Now he’s rich but constantly screaming about how awful Mom is because he can't escape the burden. He used to get his way by yelling, but with Dad gone, no one listens anymore. He's got the toys but no one to play with.
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