Happy National Siblings Day!
April 10th is National Siblings Day!
Why Celebrate?
Let me tell you about my little brother. He has been my lifelong shadow, unconditional pal, and constant ally. Ever since he was born, I have considered him to be mine. A present from my parents to me. He was my little companion. My little minion. My teammate. Mine. Throughout the years, we’ve remained very close, and I try not take that for granted.
One thing that separates sibling relationships from any other is that no matter what, your sibling is your sibling. You can unfriend a friend that has betrayed you, you can get a new roommate when your old roomie stops paying the rent, and you can stop hanging out with that beezy that only talks about herself during your coffee dates. But you can’t unsibling your sibling. You’re pretty much stuck. And I think that makes you fight harder to make things work. It’s fair to say that everyone desires a good, strong, functional relationship with their sibling(s), and here are a few reasons why your this relationship is one worth fighting for and celebrating:
- Your sibling knows you better than anyone. Let’s face it, they know too much. Your sibling knows what you look like when you first wake up in the morning (probably because he was jumping on your bed, preventing you from sleeping in on a Saturday). Your sibling knows your likes and dislikes, including the fact that you won’t eat the pieces of meat in your chili, and that your favorite sandwich is peanut butter and pickles, and that you would rather die than be in the same room with a butterfly. Every quirk, every preference, every annoying behavior… your sibling knows about it.
- Your sibling understands where you came from. They have the same family. They grew up under the same roof. They witnessed the same situations and remember the same silly family rituals and traditions. If anyone would be able to really “get” you and why you are the way you are, it’s your sibling.
- Your sibling knows how to push your buttons. And this should make you have a healthy respect for the power they posses to annoy you in a way that no one else can. They’ve spent hundreds, maybe thousands, of hours sitting by you on those long family road trips. They’ve seen you at some pretty low points and they know what triggers you. They also know many of your deepest and darkest secrets, even unintentionally. They know the one, single action that would push you over the edge in any given situation. Don’t you want a person that has all of this dangerous knowledge to be on your side in life? I think so.
- Your sibling shares your looks. There are some exceptions to this, but for the most part, siblings resemble each other. That automatically puts you on the same team. If anyone insults your sib, guess who else they are insulting? You.
- You love your sibling, and your sibling loves you. It may not always feel that way, but deep down, the sibling bond is one of love.
Please note that I realize that sibling situations and family set ups are super diverse. Parts of my list above may or may not fit your special sibling relationship, and that’s okay! In fact, that’s more than okay. What makes our relationships different and unique is also what makes them special and meaningful. Today, let’s focus on celebrating our sibling(s), no matter the situation. No sibling? Then celebrate your state of only-childness. There are beautiful things to celebrate about relationships within every family.
How to Celebrate
Find a way to show your sibling love today. If you live near enough, spend some time together. Long distance sibs? Send a thoughtful card or give them a call, just to say that you love them. Even if you aren’t as close to your bro or sis as you’d like, just telling them that you care is an invaluable gift.
Quotes of the Day
“Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero.” – Marc Brown
“A brother shares childhood memories and grown-up dreams.” – Author Unknown
“To the outside world we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other’s hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time.” – Clara Ortega
Featured image via ShutterStock
