Becoming a big sister is probably one of the best gifts I have ever received, it is even better than the Elmo toy that sings old country songs. Becoming a big sister automatically gave me a lifelong best friend. I now have someone I can swap stories and secrets, someone who will always listen and believe everything you say — no matter how completely wrong you actually are (like the time I convinced you that you were adopted. Sorry about that). If you’re a big sister, consider yourself to be one lucky girl.
I adore my younger siblings, and I feel so blessed to be their older sister even when they get on my nerves. I know I have taught my younger siblings big life lessons, but I have learned a lot from them as well. My life would be a lot different if I did not have all my siblings around. Being an older sister has taught me so many wonderful things. I am the oldest of five, I have three sisters and a little brother, and all of them have taught me something different.
When you become the older sibling, your parents are going to depend on you a lot through the years. My parents used me as a built in baby sitter, built in play-date (even when you don’t want to), and almost a third parent. The third parent thing really came in handy sometimes, some siblings don’t want to listen to their parent, but the older sibling can get through to them.
One important lesson I've learned being an older sister is that my relationship with all of my siblings is a lifelong one. This sounds obvious, but I find that when things get really bad with sibling relationships, we often forget that there is no reason to be mad at your sibling for a long period of time because your relation to them will never change. I understand some siblings grow apart, but you will always be family. Whether we're in a good place or a bad place, we will always be siblings, whether we like it or not, so it's pointless to give up on each other.
Having younger siblings does not mean that they follow in your footsteps and learn from your mistakes and triumphs, but rather you both learn from each other’s struggles and successes. I've learned that we benefit most when we learn from each other, instead of having our relationship function as a one way street. This is a mistake I admittedly have made many times, and something I believe strengthens my relationship with all of my siblings is when we talk about it.
In the end, you and your siblings should function as the ultimate dream team. Everyone should strive to help each other by encouraging one another in times of need, inspire each other in times of distraught, and praise each other to keep each other strong.
Becoming an older sister is the definitely the best thing to ever happen to me. When I left for college last fall, I don’t think anyone really realized how much my siblings and I would miss each other, but every other weekend one of my sisters is texting me to come home. I will always have their backs, and I will be here to give them advice, even when they don’t want to hear it.
