Being an older sister is hard. Being an older sister to a sixteen year old girl is even harder. There have been times where my little sister has come to me with questions I don't know the answers to, problems I don't have a solution for, and battles for which I'm unable to prepare her. However, there have also been times when I know just what to say and how to help. I don't think it ever gets easier to be a big sister, I think it just gets more rewarding. A while back I started making a list of things to remind my sister when things get hard. As we both grow up, I find that this list has somehow become just as important to me as I intended it to be for her.
Advice for My Little Sister:
Do not be afraid to question things.
You can never have too many journals, so write down anything that takes up space in your mind.
People are going to lie to you, but you should always be honest with yourself and with others.
Know your worth.
You bring a lot to the table and you should not be afraid to sit alone.
Listen to mom. She is right a lot more often than you want her to be and she has your best interest at heart. Remember that as you are growing up, she is also growing old.
Learn from mistakes- whether they're yours, mine, or someone else's.
Takes lots of photos but remember to put your phone down and embrace life as it’s happening. You can never have too many memories.
Tell the people you care about that they're important to you.
Send birthday cards, not birthday texts.
When you inevitably get your heart broken, I will be here with open arms and a shoulder to cry on. I will show you how to pick up your broken pieces and put yourself back together.
Laugh loud, laugh often.
The best is yet to come.
You will have lots of short term friends in your life- I am not one of them.
Hold on to the people who never let you forget how much you mean to them.
My love for you is infallible. There is nothing you can tell me that could make me love you less.
I encourage you to fall in love with moments well before you try to fall in love with people. Fall in love with summer nights spent driving with the windows down. Fall in love with sleeping in on a Saturday. Fall in love with yourself- you are more than deserving of it.
