Can you believe it’s been all these years since we first met? I laugh at how interesting it must have been for outsiders to watch our friendship develop. We started off as the little girls sitting next to each other at our school desks, running on the playground at recess and stealing snacks out of each other’s lunch boxes. As the years progressed, we only got closer.
It seemed as though not a day would pass where we weren’t together. Whether it was our moms alternating who would pick us up on school days or planning ahead to make sure we could get to each other’s house after getting off the bus, we always made it work.
Everyone knew how inseparable we were becoming. Our teachers, coaches, fellow classmates, siblings and parents were all 100% aware that nothing could separate us (even if we were intentionally put in different classes in hopes we would become friends with other people – it didn’t happen). It only made sense that we would play every sport together and consistently make sure we were on the same team.
I’m glad we agree that our parents and siblings are friends because of us. This childhood friendship increasingly grew into something more and more beautiful with every passing minute. With every passing day, we grew closer and so did our families.
There is no discrepancy between who belongs to what family anymore. You mom will discipline me as if she gave birth to me and my mom will discipline you as well. That’s just how it works. We can show up to each other’s houses and raid the fridge without permission. Our moms will ask us about each other’s relationship status and we will talk about it comfortably because the only thing better than one mom’s advice is two.
Our inside jokes and awkward moments are memories we will always treasure. I love that I can mention one tiny detail of a funny story and we both will laugh too hard to even finish the story completely. Most of our conversations, whether alone or with others in the room, usually begin with “remember when...” because we never want to forget the stupid little things that had us rolling on the floor laughing.
You know all the beautiful and the ugly moments of my life and loved me through my awkward pre-teen stages. We judge each other’s relationships and always will. When we’ve finally found the person we’re going to marry, they’re obviously going to have to clear it with you right after my parents (and most likely before my siblings).
We may not text everyday, and we certainly don’t see each other as much anymore now that we’ve grown up and gone our separate ways to college. This has not lessened the importance of our friendship in the slightest. My family is still your family, and yours is still mine. Even though we fought like sisters do, we came out victorious and we somehow still tolerate each other! We will still come running home for weekends excited to see each other and our families knowing we’ll be welcomed with open arms.
I wouldn’t have wanted anyone else’s name mentioned at parent-teacher conferences when we just wouldn’t listen because our conversations were clearly more important than the lessons. I can’t wait to see what shenanigans our futures hold. Thanks for being my partner in crime. Thanks for being a sister I am fortunate enough to choose.
