Anna - you were saying that you couldn't get away with talking to "adults" the way your cousin does. If you were 8 when he was born and he's 15 now, then that would make you 22, at least. Don't you consider yourself to be an adult?

You can't ever have the childhood you wish you had. That's kind of a shame because I do believe you that something was missing in the childhood you had. But your childhood is over. It was what it was. Now the most important adult in your world is you.

Your past can be mourned, but not changed. Your future is yours to make what you will of it. If you think the adults in your family were non-supportive of you during your childhood, you can bet they will be even less so, now that you are no longer a kid. So don't revolve your hopes around getting pats on the head from any of them. Maybe you're a genius; maybe not. They really don't care. Figure out what you can do that will make you want to give yourself a pat on the back. If you can figure that out, praise from others will be right around the corner. Those others may not even be your family. But recognition feels good, and it doesn't have to only come from family. Some of the biggest achievers never got much credit from their parents.