Growing up with multiple siblings in the house is a true challenge (okay, growing up with even just one sibling is difficult). Chores become negotiation tools, bathrooms become battlegrounds, and agitated arguments become knockdown drag-out brawls. I shouldn’t even mention what a struggle defeating the idea of which sibling is the favorite can be, or how tediously true the psychological dispositions of the sibling birth orders are (it’s tough being a middle child). Bottom line: siblings are exhausting.
I grew up with three sisters. Yes, it was crazy hectic and an abundance of screaming ensued, but I also learned a lot from the lovely women I call my sisters. I learned about loyalty, pride, love, cooperation, and how to effectively negotiate your way out of clearing the table after dinner (hint: take a bathroom break right after dinner ends). I’ve learned some lessons from complications in sibling life that will relate to the rest of my existence.
1. You won’t always win
Mom and dad will only take your side so many times. Hard fought battles for TV time or taking the car somewhere have been lost. It’s tough accepting a loss and having to look the sibling who won the fight in the eye. Crying about it won’t help (alright it helps sometimes). Just take the L and go with it. However, if the argument is exceedingly valid, by all means continue to argue. But sometimes sucking it up and accepting the defeat is the best way to move on and become better. Some people still have yet to master this skill in their professional lives. Siblings teach you the importance of moving on quite early in life.
2. Sharing is caring
HA. How many times have siblings heard that one? Bathrooms, bedrooms, TVs, cars, clothes, shoes, food, and the list is endless. I had my own bedroom for about a year and a half, and then my younger sister was born. For shame, I cannot even remember what the sweet solitude was like. Sharing everything becomes second nature when siblings are in the mix. Habits of offering part of your lunch, giving someone a ride, and lending clothing without batting an eye tend to form. For some reason, doing these things for siblings can be a bit hard to do (I’m talking about the sister who doesn’t share clothes without breaking the borrowers arm first). But somehow siblings learn from each other that sharing will always be important, appreciated and helpful.
3. Nobody messes with my clique
Having siblings usually means having an instant posse at family functions. Siblings don’t have to worry about going to get lunch or going to the mall by themselves. We don’t let anyone mess with that bond either. Siblings always have each other’s backs and are proud of it. While we may destroy one another after an argument over who didn’t finish doing the laundry (and in my family’s case, a heated game of Monopoly), we know that siblings will rally behind you ten minutes later. Whether a sibling fails or succeeds, they know they’ll always have a proud pack of pals to lean on, and also, to post embarrassing Instagram pictures of each other to commemorate milestones together.
4. Never being alone
I can’t even sit in my room alone for twenty minutes without having three people yell up the stairs and two people texting me saying, “Where are you? Do you want to run to Target?” A lot of times it’s hard for siblings to feel alone. When I’m trying to watch last week’s Grey’s episode without someone walking into the room and spoiling it, the “never alone” thing can be a problem. But when I need someone to fix my hair, go find new jeans with, or listen to me talk out my latest dilemma I know I have three excellent (however sometimes unwilling) candidates. I know my sisters will always be by my side. Siblings can almost eternally rely on that fact. Bad days are only bad days until a sibling comes to the rescue with a funny inside joke, a sage piece of advice, or a recap of their even worse day. Bottom line: being alone isn’t really an option with siblings. Ever.
Friends come and go, but siblings are here to stay. I know, totally cheesy, but always remember that. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my three sisters to surround me and help me. Siblings may have each other dueling for the last scoop of ice cream in the freezer and be angry at each other for the next hour, but before they know it they’ll be sitting side-by-side on the couch watching TV like nothing happened.
