Having a sister is a constant adventure. She’s my best friend but also my worst enemy. Living with someone 365 days a year isn’t always the most conducive to cooperation so we do fight a lot. We don’t feud, per say. We argue. We annoy each other, often on purpose. We argue about who gets the best seat on the couch, and who’s going to make the popcorn, and why this thing is better than that thing. Anyone who has siblings knows that those kind of arguments, or any kind really, can get heated very quickly. We’re a little old to be wrestling with each other over getting in each other’s space, but no one is too old for a shouting match.

My sister and I get along pretty well most of the time so it’s not like we’re constantly arguing like some people I know. You kind of have to figure some kind of agreement out if you want to survive past ten. That’s one of the reasons it can actually be beneficial to have a sibling. My sister taught me compromise and sharing and responsibility and compassion.

Being the oldest, I looked out for her at school and whenever we happened to be home alone. I’m also the one she’s turned to for advice and support as well as other more tangible things like rides and food. I can be her tutor for school and advise on friend problems, but I also drive her home from school and buy her food after a golf match.

Additionally, my sister has taught me the art of sharing. Specifically, what to share, how much to share, and when to share it. There’s a limit to everything and when it comes to my food the limit is precisely three French fries. When it comes to secrets the limit does not exist. As for if I have food in my teeth the answer is yes, do share, please; the “how much” is everything that could potentially embarrass me in public; and the “when” is as soon as humanly possible without shouting it from the rooftops. On the other end of the spectrum, there is a thing known as not enough sharing, and I’m pretty sure that all siblings are guilty of it at some point or another.

Under-sharing, while I’m on the subject, is on the same page as purposefully annoying behaviors and boundary issues. They’re something that all siblings need to learn how to control. Poking me in the face repeatedly falls under annoying behaviors and boundary issues. Refusing to let me borrow her eyeliner just to be difficult falls under the category of under-sharing. It’s the little annoyances, though, that really build up into a monster fight. Sometimes those happen. They’re unavoidable. It’s the bane of having a sibling: having explosive fights every once and a while.

But other times siblings can be the best thing that ever happened to you. My sister can be my best friend. We practically finish each other's sentences we’re so close. Though we have completely opposite tastes in everything from food to TV shows to our sense of humor to our choice of friends, we still manage to constantly make each other laugh and enjoy each other's company and have a good time just being ourselves with each other.

And that’s how many siblings are. We fight and argue and often disagree on everything, but at the end of the day we’ll always be there for each other whether we just need a hug or a kick in the pants or someone to help bury a body.