The reason that I asked about if they were similar in personalities is because my sister and her son are the same way. They are identical in the way they do things and my sister is harder on him than his sister. I think they treat the children that way because they see so much of themselves in them and they don't want them to be the same way they are, but that's only my opinion.
Sit quietly, the answers will reveal themselves when you least expect them to. The past is gone, the present is a gift and you need to focus on today, allow the future to reveal itself when it is ready.