As an older sister, I've often thought about selling my younger siblings to the circus. Sometimes my older siblings too. And honestly, who hasn't? Siblings get in the way, take up time with mom or dad when you want their attention, they purposely bother you or argue about nonsensical things. Like, do we really need to argue about what shoes look better with that shirt? Or about chores when we already know what they are via mom?
The most annoying thing, and I'm sure everyone with siblings can agree, is how they can just randomly go off about whatever is on TV and start fighting over who gets to pick what we watch. Those arguments are probably the worst, because they just happen so often. Why can't we just take turns watching shows? Well, obviously because one of them had the t.v. all to themselves the other day so now it's "my turn to choose." Ugh.
Have you ever had to share a room with your sibling? I have. It was awful because I'm a bit of a clean freak, I need my things where I feel like they belong, and my sister was so messy. She really didn't care where things were, even if they were on my side of the room. Which would start another one of those nonsensical arguments about where the line for the room is and if one got more room because they were older. I remember a couple times where we threw things over the invisible line, putting each other's stuff on the other's side because why not! I wanted to sell her to the circus then too.
But being an older sister is also bittersweet. I have had the pleasure of watching my younger siblings grow up from being babies into the amazing people they are. My brother, the youngest of the family, is turning thirteen and his voice is changing. I remember helping my mom change his diapers! He's going to be taller than me too probably within the next year. He only has an inch to go and then I'll officially be the shortest out of my siblings. Next year in May, my baby sister is going to graduate high school. I get to watch her cross the stage and get her diploma, and then she's planning on leaving us for Texas.
As an older sibling, I know that I will always be there for them as they will always be there for me. We've made a lot of memories, even though some of them were arguments and fights that made us give each other the silent treatment. I would give almost anything to have one more year of being a kid with them, to be able to have another one of those ridiculous arguments, to have another summer full of nothing but lazy days filled with laughter and fun.
So, I guess at the end of the day I wouldn't sell my siblings to the circus. I'd much rather have them at home where I can tease and bother them as is my right as their older sister. I'll be able to watch them grow, graduate, become adults who will lead eventful lives, and eventually have children I can spoil. Plus, it might be too late to try to sell my older sister since she's out of the house on her own.
Until then, I'll just dream of possibly selling them and refrain from pushing them into the tiger's cage when we visit the circus.
