My Dad is a civil servant and works in central London. Mum is a teacher and works in Croydon, a town on the outskirts of London

For additional reading:
1. My sister Jamie is very shy. When there are other people around, she speaks very little. Sometimes she does not speak at all, and even runs away. She is very quiet at home and at school. You do not even know she is there sometimes. She is very shy about her body , too. She never goes to the beach or swimming pool. But she likes ice-cream and cookies.

2. 
   My brother is very selfish. He does not want to share things with other people. For example, when he buys a bar of chocolate, he puts it in a secret place. Then he eats it all, by himself. He never helps anyone. He says he is busy. For example, a game of tennis or Nintendo makes him very busy. He does not care if something he does bothers other people. For instance, last night he played loud rock’n’roll music until four o’clock in the morning. In conclusion, my brother is selfish, and will always be selfish.
   
3. 
   On the whole I get on well with my sister Alice. She’s 18. Occasionally we argue, mostly about clothes. For example, if I borrow her clothes without asking, she gets annoyed. We don’t feel competitive because we have different interests. I’m more artistic and she is more academic.
   

Does she ever try to boss me around? Sometimes, but I tell her to mind her own business. How does she try to control me? She tells my parents that I shouldn’t go somewhere because it’s not suitable. Or she tells them that I should be doing more work. I think she thinks that she’s being helpful, but she’s not. She was a lot worse than me at this age, went out a lot and went to a lot of clubs which I don’t really do.

2. 
   I’m a middle child. My elder brother is 18 and my younger brother is 11. I suppose I get on better with my elder brother. I don’t feel competitive with him. We’re good at the same sort of things and we’re treated quite equally. Sometimes my elder brother is allowed more freedom than me but I understand the reason why. I suppose girls are more at risk in the streets at night. But I don’t think he should be allowed to stay out too much later than me. A little bit later, maybe!
   

I’m quite motherly towards my little brother. I make sure he looks tidy. Sometimes when he’s at a friend’s house he calls me and I have a chat with him on the phone. It’s nice that he asks to speak to me.
I used to wish I had a sister but I have my schoolfriends and I can confide in my elder brother like a friend. I’d confide in him about problems. He’s been through the same ones so he understands.

2. 
   I try to finish all my college work during the day. It’s difficult to study at home with two younger sisters and a brother at my elbow.
   

My brother Robbie is eight. He has already grown out of doing what I tell him to. He’s quite funny and a good company. But he doesn’t know where to stop. He’ll try the same joke over and over again.
As Robbie is the only boy in the family, I want him to be able to come to me. I don’t want him to feel really alone. I want us to be good friends.
Living in a big family I’ve learnt not to have all the attention focused on me. I think it’s a good thing If you’re an only child, you always have all the attention and I suppose you can get a bit self- centred.