Dear Alexandra:

It is common for two siblings to take the opposite behaviors as a result of a parent acting a certain way. Maybe your sister observed your mother putting others first and decided: I don’t want to be like this! And she puts herself first, to the extreme. You observed your mother and took on your mother’s behavior. The Middle Way, that is putting oneself first and conducting win-win interactions and relationships with others is the right and healthy way.

But children take on the extremes. And unless correcting later on, keep those extremes going.

anita