The self-esteem self-help book I bought has an exercise where I am asked to describe an event that made me angry and how I felt during that event. Well, I've got one for you book!  This weekend I helped my brother take down a tree in his girlfriends yard. It was a family event with Mom, Dad, our sister, all of the spouses and kids. My oldest nephew has a difficult time because the next oldest cousin is four years younfer than him and he is the oldest grandchild so the next oldest is more than 20 years older than him. I can empathize with him as I am also the oldest grandchild in my generation, with the next youngest being four years younger than me. We were sitting after the job and the dinner my brother used to "pay" us for our services was done when my dear old dad explained to the group that my nephew was suffering something no one else in the family could feel. When I mentioned that I knew what he felt, my father proceeded to tell me that I couldn't possibly understand his possition. Even when I recounted my own experiences growing up, he continued to deny that it mattered. How am I supposed to have any self esteem or self confidence if my own father tells me, in front of the entire family that I don't matter? My loneliness growing up because there was no one my age to play with is nothing compared to my borther's sons loneliness. You want to know what I feel? Anger. Hurt.