"To some she was the black sheep of her family, to others she was a shining light. She was simply a woman who trusted her internal compass and had the courage to live her life by her own rules." - Unknown.

Being the "black sheep" of the family can be difficult. It can be extremely exhausting.

Why exhausting?

Because you are constantly running around doing things trying to get just a little attention. Because your cousins, siblings, aunts or uncles have gotten all of the attention for as long as you can remember.

You're simply invisible or nonexistent.

You're constantly having to practically beg for attention.

You're used to being left out.

You didn't attend the family gathering one Sunday.

Why weren't you there?

You weren't invited. Everyone else was there, but no one seemed to notice that you were missing.

Ever called your dad or mom eight times with no answer?

Why didn't they answer?

Because they were too busy with your aunt/uncle and cousins.

You've actually been invited somewhere, they say they'll call you and let you know what time, but your phone never rings. Later on that night, you see pictures pop up on Facebook of an event where you should've been, but you were forgotten about.

Of course, you being who you are you shrug it off and say that it won't happen again. You make excuses for them like, they just got busy or maybe their phone died, but we both know that wasn't the case.

They simply just forgot about you. It's okay though, you're used to it.

It's not the first time that it's happen and it surely won't be the last time either.

You have a chorus concert that you are really excited about, so you invite your family. At the last minute, you get told by all of them besides your mom that they can't make it. They had to go do something. You say that's alright, maybe next time even though you know they will be busy next time as well.

One time, your family decides to have a joined party for you and another sibling/cousin but it falls apart. Even though it's partly your party, you're invisible.

The next day you get yelled at because something went wrong and it's all your fault. Even though you had nothing to do with any of it, it somehow always goes back to being your fault.

You're always forgotten about, until someone needs a babysitter.
That's how it always goes, right?
You aren't ever thought of or needed around until someone needs you to watch their kid(s).

Being the "black sheep" of the family is tough.

It's really freaking tough because half the time you have to beg for your own Father's attention.
It may be one of the biggest days of your life, like your high school graduation, and you'd still be begging just to hear the words "congratulations," or "Hey, proud of you kid."

Being the "black sheep" of the family is extremely tough, but you always have that one person on that side of the family that you can turn to because to them you aren't the "black sheep," you are their favorite niece or nephew.